Speaking during a conversation with members of the press on Liberation Day, President Kagame shared personal and national insights, emphasising the sacrifices of the liberation struggle and Rwanda's commitment to self-reliance.
"For me, at a personal level, it's been a very tough but enjoyable journey," the president said in his opening remarks.
He highlighted the significance of the struggle, noting, 'This is the best thing one can do to be part of the many years of struggle to put things right for our country, for our people, for ourselves all together.'
When asked about the personal convictions that drove him to fight for Rwanda as part of the group of refugees who formed the Rwanda Patriotic Army, which liberated the country and ended the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, President Kagame offered a deep reflection on the challenges and rewards of the liberation struggle.
'The tough side was what was confronted and dealt with, being of such a magnitude that for the half-hearted, they would just collapse under the weight of its first day,' he said.
Yet, he found inspiration in the collective effort: 'The enjoyable part… is understanding the story itself, where you are coming from and where you are going, and then finding yourself in the middle of it, being one among many to be looked up to… It gives a sense of pride, inspiration.'
Kagame paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives, acknowledging the unexplainable nature of survival.
'I cannot account for why I'm still alive. I could have easily gone the way of the others who didn't make it,' he admitted, adding, 'We remember them. We honour them. We respect them for what we know they are associated with or they did when they were still there.'
He emphasized that the struggle's purpose was to create a better future, stating, 'What comes out in the end must reflect that difference between what you really fought against and what you are creating. They have to be different.'
The president also addressed Rwanda's progress toward self-reliance, responding to a question about a 2012 speech where he criticised Western powers for scapegoating Rwanda.
'Rwanda has constantly been changing, but those powerful countries and how they see us or maybe see other Africans has really not changed,' Kagame said, asserting, 'We don't owe our living to anyone. Never will it happen again.'
'It's not bragging. It's an act of survival,' he declared, encapsulating the spirit of a nation forged through struggle and determination.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
