Rwandan President Paul Kagame has delivered a powerful message urging Africans to drop their dependency on foreign aid and take full charge of their development.
While speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of new Cabinet and government officials in Kigali, Kagame condemned what he described as the dangerous and limiting “savior mentality” among African nations.
“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 remarked.
He emphasized that international partnerships only become meaningful when African countries are already moving with purpose and determination.
Kagame clarified that his comments were not about spiritual salvation but rather about political and economic partnerships where outsiders are wrongly expected to “lift us out” of our challenges.
“This ‘savior mentality’ is one of the biggest problems we must uproot from our society,” he said, urging both leaders and citizens to recognize their own power and potential.
According to Kagame, foreign support should never replace African initiative. Instead, he called on governments to harness local talent, resources, and innovation.
“We must start with ourselves, with what we are capable of. And we must do it to the best of our ability, clearly knowing where we come from and where we want to go,” Kagame said, his tone firm and deliberate.
He further warned that many external actors are not truly invested in Africa’s rise. “You can be supported, but that only matters if you’re already on the path to where you want to go.
They will not pick you up and carry you there. 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’s remarks come at a time when donor fatigue, stalled reforms, and rising debt have left many African economies vulnerable. His call is likely to resonate across the continent, especially among young Africans and leaders pushing for self-reliance.
The Rwandan president has long been an advocate of African solutions for African problems, and his recent speech reinforces his government’s focus on dignity, accountability, and sustainable development from within.