Wednesday, Sep 18, 2013
Rwandan President Paul Kagame deserves much of the credit for the growing success of his country. The world — and the United Nations in particular — did little while close to a million Rwandans were butchered in an ethnic and political genocide during the civil war nearly 20 years ago. But, under Kagame’s Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), the warlords were defeated and good governance has led to a booming economy and greater political and social security. The World Bank has rated the country as among the best places to do business in Africa, at a time when the continent is proving to be the ‘next big thing’ in global economy.
As a result, Kagame and the RPF have been rewarded with a landslide victory in parliamentary polls. They must build upon their success and be careful not to misuse the trust of the people. In the wake of the genocide, it is understandable that security remains a major preoccupation of the government, but this must not be allowed to substantially impinge on the rule of law and human rights in Rwanda. The country must also ensure that its — justified — effort to eliminate threats from those responsible for the genocide does not destabilise neighbouring countries, where some of these war criminals are hiding. In many ways, Rwanda has overcome its past and is a model for the rest of Africa. It must continue to lead by example by strengthening its democracy and cooperating with its neighbours.
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