Lessons from President Kagame’s Interview: A Wake-Up Call for Africa
I watched President Paul Kagame’s recent interview with a sense of deep reflection—not just as an observer of African affairs, but as someone whose own life story is intertwined with the fate of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I was born in exile, the child of parents who were forced to rebuild their lives in the Congo of the 1950s. That country gave them, and later me, an education and opportunities. The DRC was once a land of promise, but today, it is a nation burdened by a leadership crisis and a lack of true ownership over its destiny.
This is not just about politics—it’s about the lives of millions of people, the hope of a generation, and the future of a continent that still struggles to take full control of its own fate. Kagame’s words were not just an analysis of Congo’s troubles; they were a call for Africans, especially those in positions of influence, to step up and break the cycle of dependency, blame, and inaction.
1. Africa Must Take Control of Its Own Resources
President Kagame pointed out how global superpowers have historically benefited from the DRC’s instability. The pattern is simple: an unstable Congo makes it easier for outsiders to control its vast mineral wealth. This is not new, but it is a painful reminder that unless African nations take full control of their resources, they will remain at the mercy of external forces. True development starts with ownership—economic, political, and strategic.
As I wrote in my last article, too many Africans flee their home countries only to complain from the sidelines. Real change will only come when we stop expecting foreign solutions and start creating our own. This is as true for the DRC as it is for the rest of Africa.
2. Leadership is About Accountability, Not Excuses
Kagame’s criticism of President Félix Tshisekedi—accusing him of fueling ethnic tensions rather than solving the DRC’s deeper issues—raises a critical point about African leadership. Too often, our leaders deflect responsibility, blaming history, colonialism, or external forces instead of making the bold decisions needed for progress.
I say this with the utmost respect for Congo and its people: leadership is not just about winning elections or holding power. It is about serving the people and ensuring long-term stability. African leaders must ask themselves: are they caretakers of their nation’s future, or just temporary occupants of high office?
3. African Problems Need African Solutions
One of the most striking lessons from Kagame’s interview is something he has often emphasized: Africa must solve its own problems. For too long, we have relied on international interventions that serve foreign interests more than our own. Whether it’s security, economic policies, or governance, waiting for outside help has only delayed our progress.
This connects directly to the paradox I wrote about last week: Africans who abandon their homeland, live comfortably elsewhere, and then criticize the continent from afar. The truth is, no one else will build Africa for us. We must be the architects of our own future.
I remember my early trips to Rwanda in 1995/1996, coming from Europe. The country was still recovering from the genocide, and Kigali was full of international NGOs, their 4x4s dominating the city. These organizations seemed to dictate how things were run, and in some places, it felt more like a playground for foreign aid workers than a post-war reconstruction effort. Many were young, inexperienced, and for some, it looked like a paid vacation in the sun rather than a mission to help rebuild a nation.
At that time, the cost of living skyrocketed—rents for villas tripled, even quintupled. Some locals took out loans to build houses, hoping to profit from the booming "aid industry." But then Kagame came into power and began putting order in the system. He started identifying duplicate missions and shutting down redundant charity offices. Rwanda quickly made the decision to cut dependency on unnecessary foreign aid, forcing the country to stand on its own feet.
This was a turning point. If we had continued to rely on aid without accountability, we would never have developed into the Rwanda we know today. Kagame’s firm stance allowed us to regain control of our own nation. If people today don’t understand why Rwanda insists on being self-reliant, it’s because they haven’t seen what dependency looked like—we have, and we refuse to go back.
4. The DRC’s Instability Affects the Whole Region
Some believe that the DRC’s crisis is a Congolese issue alone. It is not. When the DRC is unstable, it affects trade, security, and economic growth for all neighboring countries. Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and even further afield, feel the impact of Congo’s struggles. This is why the region must work together—not in competition, but in cooperation—to stabilize and unlock the true potential of Central Africa.
Final Thoughts
President Kagame’s message is a wake-up call. Africa must take ownership of its destiny. This means fixing leadership failures, ending dependency on external actors, and making smart, long-term economic decisions.
As someone with deep ties to both Rwanda and the DRC, I feel this personally. I have seen what happens when leadership fails, and I have also seen the resilience of Africans who refuse to give up on their dreams. The real question now is: will we keep repeating history, or will we finally take charge of our own future?