Rwanda’s Diaspora community is widely referred to as the country’s ‘sixth province’ for good reasons. The ever-burgeoning constituency has increasingly assumed a more prominent role in the country’s development, with remittances growing exponentially in recent years. The government, through particularly the popular Rwanda Day events – which have attracted a combined 40,000 participants over the years –, has sought to keep Rwandan citizens abroad connected and involved with their country and compatriots back home, including encouraging them to invest in the country. Rwanda Day events have taken place in different cities across the world, including Brussels, Chicago, Paris, Boston, London, Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, Amsterdam, San Francisco, Ghent, and Bonn. The policy is inherently derived from the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front’s commitment to political inclusion, a centerpiece of its 9-point political programme. The idea is that every Rwandan has equal rights and stake in their country, even if one chooses to live abroad. Needless to say, this is a far cry from the politics of exclusion under previous hateful regimes that slaughtered their own citizens, let alone allowing them to participate in national development and public life. Thanks in large part to the heroes and heroines of this country that put their lives on the line to challenge hate, fascism and bigotry – many paying the ultimate price in the process – Rwanda is today an inclusive country that allows all of its citizens equal access to opportunity and to partake in its development. As such, members of the Diaspora have not been left behind. However, while for instance remittances have grown significantly (to around $246 million in 2021) and Diasporans increasingly getting involved with all aspects of public life, there is still a lot of unexploited potential overall. Yes, members of Diaspora have played a creditable role in promoting several causes back home, including supporting universal health insurance, housing, education, and electricity schemes, among others. And, recently, a group of Rwandans have come together with a mission to actively promote their country’s image abroad, through an initiative dubbed ‘Rwanda My Home Country.’ Nonetheless, there is a need to further harness Diaspora’s potential, including in areas of investments and skills transfer, with a view to make the most of their knowledge and resources to help accelerate the country’s development. And for this to happen, there is a need to be more deliberate about facilitating their involvement, including through consistent engagement, advice and follow-ups.
