US:Kagame urged the Rwandan diaspora to strive for a better Rwanda

On February 3, President Paul Kagame urged Rwandans living abroad to maintain ties to their homeland and make decisions that will advance Rwanda to its rightful position.

He said this at the 11th Rwanda Day event, which was held in Washington, D.C. with the theme “Rwanda: A Legacy of Inclusiveness within and beyond Our Borders.”
At the event, over 6,000 Rwandans and friends of Rwanda residing overseas came to consider the country’s progress and various ways in which they could contribute.

He told them that although they can leave Rwanda and travel to other places in the world, Rwanda should not leave them, while acknowledging the significance of Rwanda Day in uniting the Diaspora with their native country.

As Rwanda marks 30 years since emerging from the ashes of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Kagame stated he wants to make sure that the country’s population, both domestically and abroad, understands that the future is in their hands.

“The young people of our country, we want to be able to rely on you, to believe in you,, and get a sense that you’ve been brought up in a manner that is going to be meaningful and put Rwanda in a place it deserves to be. It is upon you and the choices you have to make.”

According to the Head of State, calling on citizens to go above and beyond what they have already done is not meant to diminish their accomplishments; rather, it is a reflection of the circumstances facing the nation and what is expected of all.

“Business, politics, philanthropy, faith organizations, and many more—we welcome you. Thank you for many things you are doing, but we have to be aware that there is more expected from all of us.”

“Through those difficulties, we have endured, we have survived and we want to do just as much to be better human beings, to be where we want to be – where some people in other parts of the world have taken for granted, we will be there no matter what,” Kagame continued, highlighting the beauty of the journey despite its length and difficulty.

He said that Rwandans should be ready for any scenario where the nation, which was severely hit in 1994, could be hit again, using the metaphor “lightning does not strike twice in the same place.”

“I want us Rwandans not to take chances; we just have to ensure that we will not be struck again. That is possible. We just have to prepare our defenses and build our capacity.

“As Rwandans, we can’t afford to waste the lessons learned from our tragedy. There are so many lessons, including that sometimes you are on your own in times of need. So, you prepare for when that time comes.”

“I want us to go together, fast, and reach far. This is what our situation compels us to do, and we must think like that. We must be able to do things, go fast, and reach far.”

In keeping with the nation’s development agenda, the event also included a “meet the president” session where friends and members of the Rwandan diaspora engaged with the President, offering votes of gratitude, questions, and suggestions.