President Paul Kagame has defended Rwanda’s unique political and social trajectory, hitting back at critics who label the nation’s governance as a “dictatorship.”
Speaking at an RPF presidential campaign event in Gasogi, Gasabo District, Kagame highlighted Rwanda’s transformation from a history marked by genocide to a country characterized by unity and development.
Addressing a massive crowd of about 300,000 RPF supporters, many of whom had arrived at the site around midnight, Kagame said that, “A ‘dictatorship’ that results in people living together in harmony when they never had, the same people who used to hate each other, who killed one another, who lived through a genocide like it happened here. The same people now come together, agree with each other, and work together to develop their country.”
President Kagame emphasized the significance of Rwanda’s ability to choose and elect political leaders, stressing that the nation’s governance should not be dismissed or criticized due to its distinctiveness.
“When they have an opportunity to choose, to elect the political leaders they want, you call it ‘dictatorship’ because of our uniqueness, which has no resemblance to what you do,” he asserted.
He added that Rwanda’s path, though unique, is a crucial part of the country’s history and progress. “What I can tell you is that this uniqueness is also part of the history that Rwanda is writing. Nobody should tell you that [this uniqueness] is wrong; you should not accept it. There is no sin in it. It’s our uniqueness. It is a unity Rwandans never had before. It is our history changing from bad to good.”
Kagame’s remarks come amid ongoing debates by critics around the world about Rwanda’s political model and its implications for democracy and human rights.
His speech highlighted the importance of recognizing and respecting the country’s journey from a divided past to a harmonious present, shaped by Rwandans’ collective efforts and choices.
The President has been endorsed as a candidate by eight political parties in a grand coalition arrangement. However, these parties will field their own candidates for parliamentary seats, competing against the RPF of Kagame.
The RPF presidential campaign event in Gasabo District served as a platform for Kagame to reinforce his vision for Rwanda’s future, marked by unity, development, and a continued commitment to the unique path the nation has chosen.
As Rwanda prepares for its upcoming elections on Monday, the president’s message resonates with many who have witnessed the country’s remarkable transformation over the past decades.
He ends his rallies today in Gahanga, Kicukiro district.
