Paul Kagame

Paul Kagame (born 23 October 1957) is a Rwandan politician and former military officer who is the fourth and current president of Rwanda since 2000. He previously served as a commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel armed force which invaded Rwanda in 1990. The RPF was one of the parties of the conflict during the Rwandan Civil War and the armed force which ended the Rwandan genocide. He was considered Rwanda's de facto leader when he served as Vice President and Minister of Defence under President Pasteur Bizimungu from 1994 to 2000 after which the "Vice President" post was abolished.

Paul Kagame in 2014

Quotes

• Education is one of the primary things we prioritize in the development of our country, the people, and our collaboration with other countries. The educational outcomes are supportive https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/20100/news/politics/kagame-tasks-new-minister-nsengimana-to-advance-countrys-education(13 September 2024)
• When we need to protect this country that has suffered for so long, no one is helping us, I don't need anyone's permission to do what we have to do to protect ourselves
  • http://igihe.rw/politiki/article/ntimugatinye-ibitumbaraye-perezida-kagame-yijeje-abanyarwanda-umutekano-usesuye (23 January 2024)
• Rwandans will not accept any attempt to divide us. We had enough of it. More than enough. That will not succeed again here, ever.
  • Rwandans will not accept any attempt to divide us – Kagame. Igihe. (7 April 2023)
• Our hearts are filled with grief and gratitude in equal measure. We remember our dead and are also grateful of what Rwanda has become. (7 April 2024) [1]

"There is no hiding place from facts of our history" (2023)

Kwibuka 29: There is no hiding place from facts of our history – Kagame. The New Times. (7 April 2023)

• There is no hiding place for you from these very facts of our history.

• It's very clear that wounds are still deep but “Rwandans, I thank all of you for refusing to be defined by this tragic history.

• People have managed to turn the page and move forward from grieving, crying and have decided to live on and even willing to do the most difficult thing one way or the other, they have decided to forgive but we can’t forget.

• We are polite and humble people, we know where we come from, we know who we are, we listen but at the end of the day I want to assure you that as long as some of us are still here...we shall have to live our lives the best way we can

• Rwanda has transformed itself, unity is the foundation of everything we try to do. For the beginning we understood the need to cultivate and preserve the spirit of oneness to give us hope for a better future

• Genocide denial is a dangerous and deliberate attempt to block the truth, we must fight revisionist and ideologist because they are easily passed on from generation to generation and that is how history repeats itself.

• Remember that in the time of need when we needed every help we could get, the world turned its back on us. The message is ‘you are on your own’, So we should learn to be on our own and I think we have learnt enough.

• One lesson that our country learnt is to transform challenges into opportunities and also use so little to do a lot. There is nothing Rwandans cannot overcome through unity, hard work, and perseverance.

"Remarks by President Kagame as national week of mourning begins" (2023)

#Kwibuka29: Remarks by President Kagame as national week of mourning begins. Igihe. (7 April 2023)

• You can run but can’t hide. There is no hiding place for you from these very facts of our history. So even those who have their time to say whatever they want to say, they will say it. Maybe they will do many things based on that as well. But the fact is, they cannot find a place to hide.

• So, it’s very clear that the wounds are still deep. But Rwandans, I thank all of you, for refusing to be defined by this tragic history, and people have managed to turn the page and move forward from grieving, from crying, and people have decided to live on. And even, people have been ready, have been willing, to do the most difficult thing, one or the other, they have decided to forgive, but we can’t forget.

• But we have our lives to live, all of us, and nobody, I want to say nobody, will ever decide for us how to live our lives. We have strength, incredible strength, coming from this history that informs us, that tells us that you should never, never, allow anybody else to dictate to you how you live your life. And that is Rwanda today.

• We are polite people, we are humble people, we know where we come from, we know who we are, we listen, but at the end of the day, I want to assure you, that for as long as some of us are still here, what I’m saying is just what is going to happen, that we shall have to live our lives, live the best way we can just like other people elsewhere in the world, and they have no right, and we will not even accept, that dictating to us how we live our lives can happen.

• So, Rwanda has transformed itself. Unity, being together, is the foundation of everything we try to do. From the beginning, we understood the need to cultivate and preserve a spirit of “oneness” to give us hope for a better future.

• Genocide denial is a dangerous and deliberate attempt to block the truth.

• Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our story..
  • H.E. Paul Kagame's quote, Paul Kagame.com. (January 24, 2013)

"Message for the end of the year 2024"

Kagame Reassures More Security For Rwanda. Taarifa. (31 December 2024)

• In 2024, we marked 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi, and the liberation of our country. These dual anniversaries serve as a powerful reminder of how far we have come, driven by a shared purpose to move forward and rebuild. Together let us continue on this path.
• Unfortunately, we continue to see instability in our region along our borders. I want to assure you that Rwanda's security and sovereignty will always be fully protected, by all means necessary.
• Shortcuts and temporary fixes can not resolve this issue. There has to be a comprehensive solution that deals with root causes, in the medium and long term, which should guarantee lasting peace for all the peoples of our region. This is important for all of us, without exception.
• There is no peace for some and not for others. We all need the same peace. We will continue to stand for historical clarity regarding our situation, and will never accept to be painted as something we are not.
• At the heart of Rwanda's progress lies a simple but powerful truth: you can not expect others to invest in you, if you do not invest in yourself.
• We take pride in aiming high, because that is possible and best way to live our lives. In any case, it is well within our means and capabilities.
• To our young people, we expect you to take Rwanda even further ahead, beyond what we have ever imagined.
• Always remember that we are entirely capable of shaping the future that we want and deserve.