Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Celebrated as African Liberation Day, or Africa Day, the annual May 25th festivities signify the progress made by African nations in throwing off colonial rule and achieving self-determination.

In Rwanda, the celebrations are being spearheaded by the Pan African Movement Rwanda Chapter with the aim of taking stock of the continent’s gains, challenges, and future prospects.

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Janet Mwawasi Oben, is among the envoys in the country who have been actively involved in the organization’s events leading to the celebrations today, including a soccer tournament organized to celebrate Africa Liberation Day at Kicukiro on Sunday, May 19.

IGIHE caught up with her in her office at Kacyiru in the heart of Kigali City, where she reflected on Africa’s gains, the issues hindering economic progress six decades after most countries on the continent attained self-rule, and the measures needed to steer the continent toward prosperity.

{{As Africa celebrates Liberation Day on May 25th, what are some of the key achievements the continent can celebrate after more than six decades of independence?
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May 25 is a significant day for Africa because it marks the inception of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union. It’s a big day for Africa. We have a lot to celebrate despite our challenges. Since its inception, we have seen Africa grow from strength to strength, moving past the period of colonialism, with 1963 being the year when most African countries gained independence.

When we look at the progress that Africa has made since then, we can highlight achievements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfTA), which allows African countries to trade freely. Although this has not been fully realized, there has been considerable progress.

We have the Africa CDC [Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention] through the African Union, which has significantly focused on public health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with member states collaborating to find public health solutions. We have seen women being included at economic and finance decision-making tables, a significant shift from the past.

There has been growth in infrastructure, with improvements in road systems and water access. In education, we have moved from a system purely based on religion to one that has seen substantial growth, although much remains to be done.

{{Despite achieving independence, Africa remains the world’s least developed region, even with abundant natural resources. What do you think has hindered development across the continent?
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Historically, Africa has been heavily colonized, and its natural resources have been exploited by colonial powers and the West, resulting in minimal benefits for the continent. Now that we are independent, we still possess natural resources, although they are depleted. One issue is that countries rich in natural resources often focus solely on these, which hinders progress in other areas such as infrastructure and the digital economy.

Poor governance, corruption, and unaccountable institutions have also impeded Africa’s full growth. We face infrastructure challenges, with underdeveloped roads, railways, air transport, and energy sectors, placing us at a disadvantage. Political instability, disputed elections, armed conflicts, and civil wars have also stalled progress. Our education system needs improvement, and poor quality healthcare remains a problem.

Climate change is a significant issue, affecting countries across the continent. Recently, Kenya experienced floods, while Southern Africa faced drought and hunger. This hinders Africa’s growth despite its natural resources.

{{What steps do you believe are necessary for Africa to achieve full economic and political independence?
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We need to develop indigenous solutions tailored for Africa to foster economic growth, such as building industries to process our natural resources. A workforce with critical skills is essential to compete globally. Modern agricultural techniques are necessary to enhance food security. We must unite to create economic policies that promote socio-economic growth and improve trade.

Peace and stability are crucial; some states remain in turmoil, and we need strategies to address these issues.

{{The theme for this year’s celebrations is on building resilient education systems. Which areas in education should we improve on as a continent to get to the standards of developed nations?
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We should focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Many schools are adopting this approach, moving away from a system based solely on religion to one that emphasizes technological advancement and innovation. By focusing on these areas, we can develop a workforce capable of not only growing Africa but also competing globally.

Speaking during the Global Security Forum on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, President Kagame said the country has been healing for the last three decades, emphasizing that it’s not something he thought would happen so fast.

He attributed gains in the reconciliatory efforts to Rwanda’s young generation, constituting more than 70 per cent of the country’s population.

“The tragedy is behind us but it never gets that distant in the past… We have tried to build unity, and it is happening. It’s something that is benefiting from the young generation. Young people, who constitute 73 per cent of our population, are 35 and below,” he said, adding that, “We have to make sure that these divisions, to the extreme that led to the genocide, never happen again.”

President Kagame noted that Rwanda will continue to build on the unity by investing in its people.

“The foundation in this case for us is unity. We are building on that foundation by investing in people. “We invest in human capital, we provide the goods for education, and health, and food security and bring in technology, and therefore going to these other industries that will make our economy, our country, vibrant and grow and develop,” he added.

He pointed out that investments such as the construction of a modern airport in Bugesera District, in collaboration with Qatar Airways, the modernization of the mining sector, and the development of digital infrastructure add value to all aspects of the economy.

Weighing in on foreign investments and partnerships with foreign powers, President Kagame noted Rwanda had “learnt a lot of lessons” from the past.

Commenting on the rivalry between the United States and China, President Kagame insisted that Rwanda and Africa cannot be “crushed” in the issues and welcomed investments from America, China, and Europe in Rwanda and Africa.

“We can be friends with others—United States, Europe, China, you name it—and not be dragged into these conflicts that benefit those conflicting while impoverishing the African continent.”

Reacting to a recent statement from the United States calling on the Rwanda government to punish soldiers purported to be backing M23 rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kagame said such statements “simply add to the problem”.

“If I were talking to the leaders in the United States and others I would start by telling them that they can do much better than that [passing condemnation]. Because in the end, they are doing nothing. Passing statements of condemnation and blaming this and that without addressing the problem, I think, simply adds to the problem,” President Kagame stated.

The Head of State spoke virtually during his participation at the 2024 Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

“For every problem, there is a root cause. To solve it, you simply look at the root cause of the problem and work with the parties involved to address what needs to be addressed and reduce the politics and interests. Some of these things don’t just go away unless you do what needs to be done. It doesn’t need a lot of capacity to think. What all of us have can serve us to understand issues like this,” he added.

The US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller had early this month claimed that the attack on the Mugunga camp that claimed at least nine lives came from “Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and M23 positions.”

However, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed the US accusation as “ridiculous,” adding that Rwanda’s “professional army” would “never attack” a camp for displaced people.

Rwanda and DRC have been feuding over tension in the eastern DRC where the Congolese army has been fighting the M23 rebel group, part of the minority Tutsi ethnic group, which has accused the government of marginalization and persecution. On the other hand, Rwanda accuses DRC of backing FDLR, which consists of the remnants of the Interahamwe group that plotted and perpetrated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

{{Coups in West Africa
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Meanwhile, weighing in on the recent coups in West African countries such as Niger and Guinea, President Kagame emphasized that poor leadership should be blamed. He insisted that foreign powers should refrain from taking sides in the crises.

“If you look at where coups have been happening, nobody wishes to see coups happen in any place. There is nothing to celebrate about that. But at the same time, you don’t stop there. You don’t just condemn coups without even trying to find out what led to this coup. What was lacking for a coup to happen? This is when you start seeing signs of that in governance or lack of security, as we have seen in some of these countries in West Africa,” President Kagame said.

Citing Rwanda’s military support in fighting armed insurgents in Mozambique, President Kagame emphasized that African nations should find ways to work together to solve security and other common problems facing the continent instead of over-relying on the West.

“Why can’t people, first on our own continent, find ways of working together to address these problems like we did in Mozambique and the Central African Republic? With support from developed countries, it would happen faster and more easily. But they all concentrate on condemning.

“In fact, it is ridiculous that in some cases, they would condemn people in some places where coups have happened and be silent in similar cases. They will attack countries citing lack of freedom and human rights, and where some of these are lacking the most, because of interests people have in those countries, it will be muted.”