Kagame was speaking in a post-AU summit press conference that took place Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In the conference was also the Chairperson of African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
In the press conference, Kagame responded to questions on different matters regarding African Union, but, he stressed on impact expected on reforms that are being conduct in the union.
He said that from the beginning, African leaders decided it was time to consider reforms which would improve the business of leading individual countries and the continent.
“Reforms need alot of mindset change, change doesn’t come easy, it requires hard work and sometimes taking risks but the most important thing in change is driven by the need for it. If people understand that there is need for change, they will be responsive to it,” he said.
“We can generate resources from our own countries and if there is need from partners then the support will add to our own efforts. Africa isn’t going to remain as the place that depends on the rest of the world. We need to get results that we want,” he emphasized.
He said that when talking about reforms, compromise is an important principle and understanding why they undertook the reforms, “So far, there is good progress as more people join in and we will work together,”
He said that on the level of organization, they are beginning to achieve in understanding that the role of leaders is change.
“We understand there will be resistance to change but we are on a good path and we have a good cause,” he said.
Kagame said that there is a good team that has been helping with the reform process and now there is more representation of continents. He said there will be more clarity as they move forward.
“We need to work together as a continent more than ever. What matters is so much what we do and do amongst ourselves than what we keep debating with those outside our continent,” Kagame insisted.
Asked about the strategy that will help AU to deliver, Kagame said that what has been stressed is Africa pulling together its resources, be more efficient, effective, have one voice and support each other, “we have enough to take us to the level and pace we want,” he said.
On the plan to fight corruption in Africa, Kagame said that where there is a will there is a way. He said one way is through education, building rules of law and institutions and making sure that the practice attracts penalties irrespective of color or where people come from.
“Much as we are talking about corruption and fighting it, we should understand that corruption is not an African thing, it’s a global thing. We have been learning so much from everybody but we need to start doing things for ourselves through cooperation,” Kagame explained.
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