Kagame was speaking yesterday in a one-on-one conversation with Mo Ibrahim on ‘Public services in 21st century Africa’.
The conversation was held during the last session after a full day of panel discussions focused on public services, good governance and effective leadership in Africa that took place under the three day Ibrahim Governance Weekend that has been taking place in Kigali.
The conversation with Mo Ibrahim revolved around different topics including Kagame’s plans on post-presidency, African Union Commission, Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area, Corruption in Africa and the International Criminal Court among others.
Speaking about African Union (AU) reforms, Kagame said that it’s all about changing mindsets, efficiency and how they do things.
“It is also about financing because the source matters. It’s not proper that we do not fund our own budget, because we can. If it’s somebody else funding, then you do their bidding,” he said.
On AU funding formula of 0.2% levy on eligible imports, Kagame said that 25 countries are already implementing and many more are willing. He said the formula is predictable and has automaticity around it. He added that those who haven’t understood are free to engage in a conversation about it.
Speaking about Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area, the Head of State said that it is part of the AU reforms, which comes out of realisation of need. He said that he is optimistic about the trade agreement.
“That 44 countries have seen the significance and some have even ratified it. It is encouraging. I am very optimistic about the trade agreement,” he noted.
Also in the conversation, Kagame was asked about the International Criminal Court, and said that initially it was supposed to cover the whole world but ended up covering only Africa. He said that Africans are being tried on the crimes committed with people from elsewhere.
“Right from its inception I said that the Court would be trying Africans. It’s not bad to try crimes, people have to be accountable. But the concern is in the process and whether justice would be seen to be served,” he said.
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Speaking on future plans, Kagame said that he has many things planned.
“I will try to be supportive to my successor so that they can take Rwanda further. I always fall back on my family for comfort, I want some time to myself, and have always wanted to go back to school,” he said.
Speaking about AU fight against corruption, Kagame who is also the Chairperson of the union said that they have to insist on accountability and punish the offenders.
“I happen to find slogans useful but we need to urgently move beyond this. What we have to do is to insist on accountability and punish offenders. Corruption is not limited to Africa,” he said.
On the future of Rwanda, the Head of State said that he wants the country developed ten times from where it is today.
“Looking back at where we were and where we are now, we would like to be ten times better going forward,” he said.
The Ibrahim Governance Weekend is a three-day event that convenes political and business leaders, representatives from civil society, multilateral and regional institutions as well as Africa’s major international partners to debate issues of critical importance to Africa.
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