President Paul Kagame yesterday delivered a powerful inaugural speech, rallying Rwandans and Africans to stand together in the interest of their own people as that is the root of all successes, the New Times reports
In his speech after he was sworn in for a third term, Kagame pointed out that for centuries, Africa has faced adversity but the continent’s civilisation has sustained it, the report said.
“Africa has no civilisational problems, only assets,” Kagame said adding the phrase “Sans aucun doute” in French with reference to the French president recent comment on Africa’s civilisation.
“Over centuries of adversity, our civilisation sustained us. Today it endows us with ambition, compassion and creativity. Without exception, there is infinitely more that unites us, as Africans, than divides us,” Kagame reiterated.
“It is important for Rwandans and our fellow Africans to feel reassured that attacks on our character only make us stronger, provided we respond with clarity and conviction.”
The President added that every African country has to contend with efforts made to make them live on someone else’s terms.
“They demand that we replace systems that are working well for us with dogmas in which their own people are rapidly losing faith,” Kagame said.
About 20 Heads of State and Government as well as representatives of various governments and organisations attended President Paul Kagame inauguration ceremony on Friday
In his speech, Kagame urged fellow Africans to work together and more closely, saying that the governance and prosperity of Africa cannot be outsourced.
“Let’s build on the reform spirit that has taken root in the African Union, and indeed in every African country, to quickly deliver the results that our people expect and have been waiting for,” the report quotes him saying.
Kagame also had a message for the Rwandan citizens
“It is truly a privilege and an honour to serve you. Together we have lived a life which at every turn has been unexpected, unprecedented and often shocking. Yet we have made progress thanks to the distinctiveness of our choices and the resilience of our people. We have worked incredibly hard to rebuild our nation in a spirit of consensus, while leaving no one behind, in particular our women, men, have equal rights and opportunities. Today Rwanda defines no one as an enemy, whether domestic or foreign, every Rwandan has a country and with every other country , we seek partnership and cooperation.” He said
