This year President Paul Kagame assumes the chairmanship of the African Union, and much as this is a rotational process among African Heads of State, there is more to this: last year President Kagame was chosen by fellow African Heads of State meeting in Kigali to come up with proposals to end duplication of roles by various AU organs, and cede some roles to regional economic communities.
In a word, President Kagame was entrusted with leading efforts to reform the AU into a more credible and self-reliant body. If this is not a recognition and acknowledgement of the man’s leadership qualities I don’t know what is.
With a steady hand and sound policies President Kagame has defied Rwanda’s enemies and critics thus transforming Rwanda into a vibrant democracy with a bright future than ever before in her history. The facts on the ground tell the story. All the noises by Rwanda’s detractors is malarkey.
This is also salutation to Rwanda’s recovery and performance on the world stage, all achieved in a mere 24 years since the genocide against Tutsi when Rwanda was almost written off as a failed state.
Our fallen did not die in vain.
Rwanda’s men and women in uniform constitute the fifth largest peacekeeping force in the world. Our blood was shed callously in those 100 dark days in 1994, but we will always rally to just causes. Nobody can break our spine.
In his address to the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the AU meeting in Addis Ababa after he assumed the chairmanship, President Kagame said, “Thank you for your double trust. First as the leader of the reform process now as the chairperson of our union.
I promise to do the best job I can. But I will need your full support.”
I hope this call does not fall on deaf ears. It is shameful and embarrassing that 76% of the union’s $475 million annual budget comes from donors. State contributions account for only 24%, while delayed contributions remain a major challenge with most states paying their dues in the 3rd quarter.
Africa is not lacking in resources, and we are not a poor continent. But as long as our future is tied to the largesse of donors we cannot independently be in charge of our affairs.
How can we claim to be independent when begging has become our mantra?
With the recent un-ceremonious fall of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe after 37 years of mis-rule, one would hope that a message was heard across Africa, loud and clear: time is up for those so-called “Big Men” masquerading as leaders while millions across the continent continue to die from hunger and curable diseases.
Africa’s problems must be solved by Africans, if our independence is worthy.
