Kagame: Africa needs to be prepared for the new global order

President Paul Kagame has stated that Africa must get ready to assume its role in a new global order, regardless of whether it is ready for it or not.

On Friday, July 4, the Head of State was addressing reporters during a media event marking the 31st anniversary of Rwanda’s independence.

President Kagame insisted that Rwanda and Africa should be prepared for such a shift in response to the question of whether the world is becoming more multipolar.

“We should be prepared whether we are ready or not,” Kagame stated. 

“Well, that might not happen, but you should always be ready for the possibility that it might. Why shouldn’t I be ready if I even make a mistake and conclude it might not occur?

According to President Kagame, Africa needs to be cognizant of and adaptable to the ever-changing global power dynamics.

The global order will always shift, in my opinion. It won’t stay like way forever. Due to numerous reasons, there will be one type of world order today and another the following day. What we observe ought to educate us.

According to the Head of State, geopolitics and the way that international players frequently prioritize their own interests above those of others are largely to blame for the shift.

“People will express interest in you. However, how can you accomplish your goals and appreciate your interests? Do you seek your interests at the expense of other people’s interests, or do you value your interests and consider other people’s interests as you pursue them? In this manner, you discover points of agreement, collaborate, and possibly establish a partnership.

He went on to say that some countries overestimate their capacity to enforce results on their own.

Sometimes, regardless of whether they take you into account or not, they believe they will still succeed in their goals. Sometimes, they will approach you and say, “I will pursue my interest because I am powerful enough,” and that’s it. If you don’t do this, I’ll blow you away. I’ll say, I want this. Sometimes something might work, and other times it has restrictions.

Kagame contended that red lines are uncrossable, even in tiny states.

But even with my insignificance, you can’t make me do things that even the weakest people, like us, can’t. I cannot be asked to accept FDLR by any authority. “I will tell you, look for what you would do to me because you are sure I won’t accept it,” he stated, alluding to the terrorist organization based in DR Comgo that was established by the surviving members of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The global order, he said, is “fluid” and “dynamic,” influenced not only by new powers but also by the coalitions and subsequent divisions they create.

Rwanda never gives up.

But it will be hard for me to convey given our situation. Because Africa is not the right place for us to be. We have everything we need to reach where we want to be, except ourselves, which is even harder to comprehend. We’re not there to deliver on what we currently have in order to change into what we ought to be, for some reason. In some way, we are not there. That’s beyond me to describe. For it, I don’t have any medication.

Kagame cited Rwanda’s attempts to get ready for transformation while also advocating for more extensive continental cooperation, despite its low resources.

We are attempting to achieve our goals within the constraints of our limited resources and means, at least with Rwanda. We are traveling to become the best versions of ourselves in that constrained area.

“If we can collaborate with other African countries, and we try,” he continued, “we can make a difference toward that goal. However, more people must take the necessary actions. We’re more likely to arrive sooner if we work together to accomplish our goals,” he remarked.