Paul Kagame - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Rwanda’s president leads genocide commemoration 30 years on

RWANDA'S president led commemorations to mark 30 years since the 1994 genocide that killed more than 1 million people and said the conditions that led to the slaughter would never be allowed to exist again in his country's politics. Over 100 days, starting on April 7 1994, Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically massacred by Hutu extremists, led by the Rwandan army and a militia known as the Interahamwe. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and his wife led 37 visiting leaders at a wreath-laying ceremony at a genocide memorial in the capital Kigali that contains the remains of some 250,000 people. "Genocide…

Mar

2024

By MAARTJE WEERDESTEIJN

Rwanda: Paul Kagame is a dictator who clings to power but it’s not just for his own gain

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

RWANDA’S president Paul Kagame recently said he was looking forward to his retirement after 23 years in power. Speaking to the press in April 2023, he claimed he “may join journalism in my old age” – a somewhat surprising choice, given the poor state of the freedom of the press in Rwanda. But the chances that Kagame will actually step down seem rather small. After a controversial referendum in 2015, Rwandans voted to extend presidential term limits, allowing Kagame to rule potentially until 2034. More recently, Kagame was re-elected to head the ruling party – the Rwandan Patriotic Front –…

Dec

2023

By ANDREW MACASKILL, MICHAEL HOLDEN and KYLIE MACLELLAN

UK lawmakers in Sunak’s party say Rwanda bill not tough enough

NEWS

BRITISH Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was scrambling to get enough support for his flagship immigration policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda after some lawmakers in his party said a planned emergency law was not tough enough. Sunak is facing a critical test of his authority with politicians on the right and the left of the Conservative Party threatening to vote against the bill when it goes before parliament on Tuesday. In a boost late on Monday, a centrist group of lawmakers in the One Nation faction recommended that its members back the bill but warned that they would not accept any…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

UK PM Sunak says he discussed migration plan with Rwanda’s Kagame

NEWS

BRITISH Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he discussed plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda with President Paul Kagame as he finalises his response to a block on the policy in the Supreme Court in London. Sunak's government has said it is working on a new treaty with Rwanda, as well as new domestic legislation after the UK's top judges ruled the policy unlawful last month. Asked by reporters what he discussed with Kagame on the sidelines of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, Sunak said he was "confident" about his government's proposals but the two leaders wanted to get the details…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Visa-free travel for Africans: why Kenya and Rwanda have taken a step in the right direction

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

PRESIDENT William Ruto of Kenya recently announced that Kenya’s borders would be open to visitors from the entirety of Africa, with no visas required, by the end of 2023. He said When people cannot travel, business people cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers. ALAN HIRSCH, Research Fellow New South Institute, Emeritus Professor at The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town A few days later, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda followed suit, saying all Africans would be able to enter Rwanda without visas. Neither Kenya nor Rwanda will be the first. By the…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Paul Kagame could be president of Rwanda until 2035 – what’s behind his staying power

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

RWANDA’S ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), recently concluded its 16th congress. This also marked 35 years of its existence. The centre piece, however, was the election as chairman, yet again, of the country’s president Paul Kagame. With 99.9% of the votes – 2,099 of the available 2,102 votes – Kagame was re-elected and put on course to potentially run for yet another electoral term in 2024. Author DAVID E KIWUWA, Associate Professor of International Studies, University of Nottingham The constitution allows Kagame to seek re-election until 2035. That’s a long way off and he has not indicated when…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Rusesabagina vs Rwanda: how Kagame wields soft power to get his way with the West

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

IN politics, soft power is a persuasive approach to international relations. A leader can use soft power by exerting economic, cultural or reputational influence. His hard power aside, soft power is something Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame possesses in spades. One of Africa’s long-serving leaders, Kagame wields soft power to deal with international criticism of his authoritarianism and human rights abuses. Author KEITH GOTTSCHALK, Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape As a political scientist, I have been tracking developments in Africa’s governance and democracy, integration and peace-keeping. In my view, the recent Paul Rusesabagina saga was the first misstep that…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina’s release and apology – a master stroke by Kagame

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

RWANDA’S ministry of justice recently announced the pardon and release of Paul Rusesabagina from jail. Rusesabagina was involved in events portrayed in the 2004 Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda. In September 2021, Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in jail over his ties to groups opposed to Rwandan president Paul Kagame. His release followed intense diplomatic talks between Washington and Kigali and was negotiated by Qatar. Author JONATHAN BELOFF, Postdoctoral Research Associate, King's College London While Rusesabagina’s release may be celebrated by his supporters in the west, it’s a bit more complicated within and for Rwanda. His pardon needs to be…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Freed ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero departs Doha for Houston for family reunion

NEWS

IMAD CREIDI THE man who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda", Paul Rusesabagina, has boarded a plane in Qatar bound for Houston after being released from prison in Rwanda last week, a source familiar with the matter said. Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident who has lived in exile in San Antonio, Texas, for over a decade, was sentenced in September 2021 to 25 years over his ties to a group opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame that has an armed wing. The 68-year-old, a vocal critic of Kagame, says he was lured to Rwanda in 2019 when he boarded a private…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Freed ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero Rusesabagina leaves Kigali, reaches Qatar

NEWS

IMAD CREIDI and PHILBERT GIRINEMA PAUL Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in the film "Hotel Rwanda" about the 1994 genocide, has arrived in Qatar after being released from prison in Rwanda last week, Rwanda's government spokesperson said. Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident, was sentenced in September 2021 to 25 years over his ties to a group opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame that has an armed wing. He was released on Friday after his sentence was commuted following months of negotiations between Washington and Kigali. Washington's historically close ties with Rwanda have been strained by Rusesabagina's detention and by U.S.…