The summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) of the world’s French speaking countries begins in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, this Thursday. During the summit, the new secretary general will be selected.
At this stage, Ms Mushikiwabo’s ascendancy to the top post is all but a formality.
French President Emmanuel Macron has already given the Rwandan foreign minister his nod, a key endorsement in that the candidate the leader of France backs has invariably gone on to get the job. Even Canada has withdrawn support for their own national, incumbent Michaelle Jean’s bid for a second mandate.
Whether you support the administration of President Kagame and the RPF or not, you have to concede that they have made Rwanda proud again. The ascendancy of Mushikiwabo is another in a long list of achievements under President Kagame that have thrust Rwanda on the world map, for reasons other than genocide!
We are now respected on the regional stage, the African stage, and world stage. This is no mean achievement for an administration that from the word go was beset by problems and challenges that would have confined us to permanent basket case status. We should never get tired of saying it, and reminding ourselves of it.
If the leadership of Kagame was even a tiny fraction less than what it is, we would still be grappling with civil strife rather than what we are now: a country that’s become a byword for every kind of positive development.
Our troops and police forces in international peacekeeping missions have become the benchmark for others in how to keep peace. Our example in abolishing visa requirements for any African that wants to visit Rwanda are being emulated all over the continent, making life easier for so many Africans who now do not have to go through useless bureaucratic visa hustles. Our country’s leadership on gender parity, on environmental protection issues, on so many other things has induced so much admiration for Rwanda.
The selection of Ms. Mushikiwabo is just another way the respect is being manifested, although much credit also goes to the diplomatic effort that has gone into promoting her candidacy.
All Rwandans should rejoice for another important win for their country.
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