The remarks were made in Kigali on 12 September 2025, during celebrations of the United Nations International Day for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, an event that brought together government officials, diplomats, private sector actors, and representatives of international organizations.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonnia Ojielo, emphasized that cooperation among developing nations is now indispensable in tackling global challenges.
'We gather at a time when our world faces unprecedented challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to mounting debt burdens and widening digital divides,' he said. 'These complex issues demand solutions that are locally rooted, globally connected, and collectively owned. Dear friends, cooperation is no longer optional. It is essential.'
Ojielo praised Rwanda's contribution through the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), describing it as a model for knowledge exchange.
'Rwanda, through the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, has committed itself to sharing knowledge with other countries. I see this as extraordinary, because being a developing country does not mean it has nothing to share with others,' he said.
Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that developing countries should build solutions by leveraging the resources they already possess.
Since 2018, Rwanda has hosted more than 700 delegations from over 70 countries, showcasing innovations in digital governance, service delivery, and socio-economic transformation. Ojielo cited Rwanda's support to Eswatini and Guinea in digital transformation as concrete examples of how home-grown solutions can be adapted elsewhere.
'These initiatives demonstrate that Rwanda is helping to turn local innovation into global impact, a model of what South-South Cooperation can achieve when vision meets action,' he added.
In her address, Uwase Patricie, CEO of the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, stressed that Africa is no longer waiting for answers from outside but is actively creating its own solutions.
'Allow me to begin with a simple thought: Africa is no longer waiting for solutions, Africa is building them,' she declared. 'In a world where crises too often dominate headlines, it is easy to believe that answers must come from elsewhere. But here, in Kigali today, and across the Global South, we are writing a different story, a story of shared innovation, collective resilience, and opportunity born from cooperation.'
Highlighting Rwanda's partnerships across the continent, Uwase noted: 'We have walked with our brothers and sisters from Chad to Eswatini, from Guinea to Lesotho â€" not as teachers, not as students, but as partners. Together, we have built e-tax systems, procurement platforms, and financial reforms. Together, we have proved that development is not imported, it is exchanged.'
Looking ahead, she announced that Rwanda will host the Annual Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in December 2025. The gathering in Kigali will bring together governments, innovators, and partners to design the next generation of cooperation.
'If there has ever been a time for Africa to rise, that time is now. If there has ever been a generation bold enough to lead that rise, it is this one. And if there has ever been a place where cooperation can turn into transformation, it is here, in Rwanda, with all of you. Let us rise together,' Uwase said.
Both speakers urged African countries to embrace innovation and cooperation as tools for transformation. Ojielo called on nations to 'learn from each other, innovate together, and deliver results,' while Uwase challenged leaders to see climate change, digital divides, and youth unemployment as opportunities for green growth, inclusive technology, and enterprise development.
Rania Umutoni
