Kagame was speaking Sunday in the 30th AU summit that took place in Addis Ababa. At the same occasion, Kagame also assumed the chairmanship of the AU replacing Guinea’s Alpha Conde.
In his acceptance speech, Kagame said that Africa has assets and strengths to build on, starting with African Union and its tangible commitment to unity.
He said that unity is an advantage which no other region of the world possesses in such abundance.
“Unity must be our starting point as we work to re-define Africa’s plans and ambitions. These changes need to happen,” he said.
“There’s no country on our continent that does not want to be part of a more assertive and visible Africa. The programmes, policies and priorities of the AU contain the right tools for the job,” he added.
{{Three historic agreements for building Africa’s wealth}}
Kagame paid tribute to previous leaders of AU and former Heads of State for paving the way forward.
“Because of their foresight, we are in a position to adopt three historic agreements of the highest importance for building Africa’s wealth,” he said.
He said, Africa launch the Single African Air Transport Market, a major step forward for transportation.
He said this year; they are ready to adopt the Continental Free Trade Area.
By committing to break down these various barriers, we will send a tremendous signal in Africa and beyond that it is no longer business as usual.
“Our people deserve a brighter future. Their sacrifice and hard work should be rewarded with better lives for families and communities,” he said.
Kagame thanked Heads of State who champion important themes and priorities of the Union at every Summit, by asking that they pay careful attention to their reports, and act on the recommendations offered.
“I wish to commend the efforts of AU’s professional staff which often goes unheralded. Your hard work and talent are greatly valued. We are going to be asking you to do even more going forward,” he expressed.
He said soon they will have the funds to support the African prosperity agenda. It means that the levy on eligible imports is being implemented; the Golden Rules were recently approved by Finance Ministers and have a more credible budget process in place.
“We have helped perpetuate the narrative that Africa is a burden. This way of thinking has been around for decades. Fixing it won’t take a year, but it need not take twenty years either. None of us would be wrong to feel angry about the time and potential we’ve lost. But at the stage we’re at, we should choose to respond with discipline and facts, in order to re-focus us on our common humanity,” Kagame noted.
{{Message to Youth}}
“I wish to close with a message to Africa’s young people. Elders should be able to enjoy the pleasure, of telling you how hard they had it at your age, to better appreciate what you have, and inspire you to work harder,” he said.
However, Kagame said, too many Africans come of age in the same conditions as their parents and grandparents, and sometimes the hardships endured are even worse.
He assured that the current job is to make sure that every generation enjoys a better one than the last.
“Young Africans, men and women, you have a full role to play. For women especially whom we need to unreservedly accord their full rights and roles we cannot build Africa without you,” he said.
Kagame will serve a one-year mandate and will hand over the AU chairmanship to Egypt next year.
