On April 20, 2018, Kigali was announced as the next host of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) which was meant to be held in 2020. This was a historical moment, not only for Rwanda, but also to the bloc. The then youngest member state, a non-British colony and historically a francophonie country, was breaking the glass ceiling to be at the helm of the bloc. One might be surprised at how, with all the setbacks, Rwanda got to achieve this. But a sure thing is, no shadow of doubt would be cast on her capability to handle such a big task so eloquently and excellently. The country has a strong track record of hosting big international events successfully and the long list of the events includes the 26th World Economic Forum, and the 27th African Union Summit among others. As the preparations to host CHOGM were underway in 2020, Covid-19 emerged and forced the postponement of the meeting for two years. But on June 20, 2022, the meeting was happening at last and there was nothing going to stop Rwanda from showing the world that it’s truly a global destination for international meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Weeks before the meeting kicked-off, things in Kigali were changing rapidly. From the construction and renovation of roads to putting final touches to the conference preparations and logistical arrangements, Kigali was taking on a new image. The teams involved in the preparations were working days and nights, and every single morning, the city would be different from how it was the previous night. However, as Rwanda was reserving no energy to ensure that CHOGM goes on successfully, so did detractors who were falsifying allegations against the country to tarnish its image and discourage the attendees from flying in. Following the resurgence of M23, the Democratic Republic of Rwanda (DRC) has been accusing Rwanda of backing these militias fighting in the eastern part of DRC. Rwanda has for so long been refuting these claims but all in vain. The tensions between the two countries are rising and in the DRC, the government and its forces (FARDC) have been inciting the population to rally against Rwanda and her president. Verbal and physical attacks targeting Rwandophones in the DRC have been intense, and for several times, the FRDC shelled on Rwanda’s territory with intent to destabilize the country’s security. But, regardless of the weight these allegations might have, nothing was to deter Rwanda from putting in extra efforts to exceedingly meet the expectations of CHOGM attendees and ensure their maximum safety. The meeting brought together over 4,000 people including Commonwealth heads of state and their representatives, and as they started jetting in, the amazement of the greenery of the city was always hard to hide. Many shared the joy of being in Rwanda in their speeches and social media, and praised the Rwandan people for their generous reception. In his remarks during the opening ceremony, Charles, The Prince of Wales, revealed he was “delighted” to be in Rwanda and thanked her for “the most impressive preparations” towards the success of the meeting. To Boris Johnson, the premier of the U.K and the outgoing chair of the Commonwealth, being in Rwanda was “an extraordinary and moving moment” as he said during a press conference. With her expertise, Rwanda spiced up the meeting with multi-disciplinary social events. The Kigali People’s Festival, the Kigali Night Run that attracted thousands of people, and the Rwanda Fashion Week that excellently showcased how the fashion industry in Rwanda is growing, to mention a few, everything was well thought out to create a memorable experience for the guests. But the success of hosting CHOGM has not come overnight. This is a result of extensive efforts and investments the government of Rwanda has made towards elevating its tourism and hospitality sector to global standards. The vision started two decades ago by the construction of the Intercontinental Hotel, which later became the now Serena Hotel Rwanda. Today, Rwanda has a state of the art convention center that Kigali Convention Center is, and 8 five-star hotels among other numerous high-standard hotels it prides itself in. In 2014, the government established Rwanda Convention Bureau, a task force at the forefront of advancing Rwanda to becoming a premier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE). This has contributed to the growth of the hospitality and service sector in general, which in 2021, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, generated 48% of the country’s GDP, becoming the biggest contributing sector. In the budget for the next fiscal year of 2022/23, the government has allocated Rwf10.5 billion for the full recovery of MICE tourism after it was hit hard by Covid-19. During the CHOGM week also, President Kagame launched the construction of both BioNTech mRNA vaccine manufacturing plant, the first of a kind on the continent, and the Kigali Financial Square, a $100-million business complex set to be a regional financial hub. The FIFA Executive Committee also later endorsed Rwanda to host the 73rd FIFA World Congress in March 2023. This caused a wide range of Rwandans to burst with pride at having to call Rwanda home, things beyond what can be expected from a country which was brought to ashes 28 years ago by the genocide against the Tutsi that claimed more than a million lives. But beyond the shattered hearts and miserable minds, unity and reconciliation were enthroned. Thinking big, having a shared vision, and the visionary leadership are at the steering wheel of the country’s transformational journey. The country is now boldly and unapologetically claiming its position in the world. It currently occupies the top seats of both the English and French speaking countries’ organizations, the Commonwealth and La Francophonie, and it has championed some of Africa’s major transformations such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and vaccine equity, as well as exporting peace to the war-torn countries across the continent. The Rwanda that has for so long been a dream, is now coming into existence.
