Rwandan President Paul Kagame has criticized the way African countries are treated on the global stage, arguing that sanctions and political pressure are often driven by the interests of powerful nations rather than principles of justice or fairness.
Kagame made the remarks during an interview with CNN journalist Eleni Giokos at the opening of the Africa CEO Forum, one of the continent’s largest gatherings of political leaders, investors and business executives.
More than 2,800 participants from 69 countries attended the forum, including several African heads of state such as Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Mamadi Doumbouya and Daniel Chapo.
During the discussion, Kagame said the current global climate should push Africa to rethink its position and make better use of its own resources and opportunities.
He questioned why Africa continues to lag behind despite possessing some of the world’s most strategic natural resources.
“Dukwiriye kwishingikiriza amahirwe dufite. Kuki Afurika ihora iri inyuma?” Kagame said.
The Rwandan leader pointed to Africa’s vast reserves of minerals essential for modern industries, especially battery production, saying global powers are competing for those resources while Africans gain little from them.
“Iyo urebye amabuye y’agaciro avugwa, yose cyangwa se ingano nini, [akenewe] kugira ngo hakorwe batiri, ari muri Afurika. Ibihugu bikomeye biri kuyarwanira. Ariko Afurika ifite menshi, iracecetse cyangwa se ari gutwarwa hafi ya yose n’abakomeye kuri make kuko bo bazi icyo kuyakoresha,” he said.
Kagame argued that Africa’s biggest challenge is not the absence of opportunity, but the failure to act collectively and strategically.
“Dukeneye kujya hamwe tukagira icyo dukora, ibindi turabizi. Ntekereza ko duhomba byinshi kubera kudakora ibyo dukwiriye gukora,” he added.
Speaking about sanctions imposed on African countries, including Rwanda, Kagame said such measures are often shaped by geopolitical and economic interests.
“Bishyirwaho bishingiye ku utanga bike kurusha undi, bijya mu nyungu z’utanga byinshi. Niba umuntu abizi ko azakura byinshi ahantu runaka, bazorohera aho hantu kabone n’iyo abo bantu baba ari bo bari mu makosa,” he stated.
Kagame compared the current international system to colonial-era practices where foreign powers controlled territories and resources for their own benefit.
“Ibyo biri kuba uyu munsi hano. Bahereza umuntu bati genda ukore ibyo ushaka muri kariya gace. Ni uko Afurika itwarwa,” he said.
He also criticized what he described as hypocrisy from powerful countries that preach democracy and human rights while simultaneously exploiting Africa’s wealth.
“Ibi bihugu bikomeye ubona, biza hano byigisha abantu ibijyanye n’uburenganzira bwa muntu na demokarasi, babikorana ikiganza kimwe, ikindi batwara ibyo abantu batunze. Ni yo mpamvu Afurika ikeneye kwihesha agaciro rimwe na rimwe,” Kagame noted.
The Rwandan president insisted that Africans must develop the confidence to reject unfair treatment and build stronger control over their own economic future.
He said the pressure facing African nations today should serve as a wake-up call for the continent to reassess its strengths and claim a more influential place in global affairs.
Meanwhile, Jean-Guy Afrika, the head of Rwanda Development Board, highlighted Africa’s growing population as one of its biggest untapped opportunities.
He stressed that the private sector must play a greater role in driving investment and economic transformation across the continent.
Using Rwanda as an example, Jean-Guy Afrika said the country has opened its economy to investors through reforms targeting sectors such as tourism, technology and innovation, helping position Rwanda as one of Africa’s emerging investment destinations.
