President Paul Kagame delivered a sharp rebuke of what he called the “savior mentality” pervading African leadership, demanding that Rwanda and the continent abandon the expectation that external partners will solve their problems.
Speaking during Friday’s swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva and cabinet members, Kagame said “This ‘savior mentality’ is one of the biggest problems we must uproot from our society.”
“There are those who have given up, resigned to the idea that Rwandans, and Africans, are destined to remain poor, divided, and forever waiting for someone to come and save us,” Kagame said.
“I am not referring here to spiritual beliefs or divine salvation. I am talking about people, those whom we call ‘partners,’ who sit with us at the table and are expected to lift us out of our struggles,” he added.
The Rwandan leader challenged the notion that external assistance leads to genuine development, arguing that such help serves other interests.
“Others can help, but that help only matters if you are already moving in the direction of your goals. They will not pick you up and carry you to where you want to be. In fact, they don’t even want to. And if you didn’t know, let me tell you now: they benefit from keeping you where you are,” Kagame said.
Young Leaders Challenged to Act
The ceremony marked a deliberate shift toward empowering younger officials in Rwanda’s government. Addressing the newly sworn cabinet members, Kagame said “This cabinet reflects a deliberate choice: to empower young people.”
“You are educated, exposed, and aware of our history, so why act like nothing happened? You should stop blaming others. You have been given the opportunity to lead, use it,” Kagame said.
“Reject the mindset of dependence and complaint. True change starts with self-awareness, values, and belief in your own ability to shape the future.”
Call for Continental Evolution
Kagame positioned his message within a broader argument for African transformation, addressing what he described as widespread disrespect faced by the continent’s people.
“The level of disrespect Rwandans and Africans face daily is staggering. But we must ask ourselves: why do we tolerate it? What do we lack to reject it?” Kagame said. “It’s as if we only do what’s right when we are told to. That mindset has to change.”
The president emphasized that African nations must serve their own people’s interests rather than external expectations.
“We are not here to serve others’ interests – we serve our people. In today’s world, you choose your battles wisely. And these; our dignity, our responsibilities – are battles worth fighting.”
Kagame insisted that the continent cannot remain static in its approach to development and governance. “We cannot remain the same Rwandans, the same Africans, we were 100 or even 50 years ago. We must evolve.”
New Cabinet Takes Office
President Kagame arrived at Parliament where he presided over the swearing-in of Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva as well as cabinet members, including newly appointed Ministers of Environment and Local Government, and Ministers of State of Infrastructure and Agriculture.
In addressing the new officials, Kagame emphasized the weight of their responsibilities and the need for internal commitment.
“Giving you these responsibilities has its own weight. First of all, it stems from your capacity, knowledge, and your willingness to fulfill them. You must have the will, you must understand what you are going to do, and you must have the ability to do it.”
“There are certain roles that people are given because others have seen potential or ability in them. That is recognition that comes from the outside,” Kagame said.
“But how you carry out those responsibilities – how much ownership and commitment you bring, and whether you see the task as something greater than yourself, as something that concerns the whole country – that cannot be given to you by others. It must come from within you,” he added.
The president concluded by emphasizing personal accountability in leadership. “The way you apply what you bring from the inside, that is entirely up to you.”
The swearing-in ceremony represents the latest chapter in Kagame’s philosophy of African self-determination, emphasizing the need for the continent to chart its own course rather than depend on external guidance.
KIGALI, Rwanda, July 25, 2025 (Bantu Gazette)
