Minister Mugenzi made the remarks during a Pan African Movement Rwanda symposium held in Kigali on June 29, 2025.
Dr. Mugenzi noted that African-led solutions are more effective for solving the continent's problems than allowing the population to disperse in search of prosperity elsewhere, often risking their lives and contributing to the development of other regions.
'It deeply saddens me to see Africans dying in the sea trying to find solutions in Europe. That is potential we are losing. And when we get there, they tell us, 'That's how Africa has always been,' and label us as ignorant. Yet once we're there, they use us to drive their development, extracting value from us,' he said.
He stressed that many of the answers to Africa's challenges exist within the continent, but a mindset shift is needed, one that values what Africa has to offer.
'Instead of our people perishing in the Mediterranean, they should seek solutions in other African countries, because those solutions exist here too. We must value our own, and that starts with valuing ourselves and earning the respect of the international community,' he added.
Dr. Mugenzi also emphasised that self-worth includes embracing African languages. Beyond each country's native tongues, he recommended Swahili as a unifying language for continental gatherings, noting that it is widely spoken and indigenous to Africa.
'A local solution is better than a foreign one. True self-reliance means building on our own capabilities, with each individual actively seeking answers to their immediate challenges. When you wait for someone else to solve your problem, you've already made yourself part of the problem. These issues are oursâ€"and so are the solutions," he added.
According to data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), over 20,000 Africans died or went missing in the Mediterranean Sea between 2014 and 2024 while attempting to reach Europe. In 2024 alone, an estimated 2,452 people lost their lives or disappeared.
IGIHE
