In 1994 Rwanda burst into the popular imagination of the world, seared by a genocide that was for most observers so terrible and incomprehensible it beggared belief. Yet despite its seismic impact, there has been little sustained interest in the complex figure who contributed so much to the genocide’s conclusion. Paul Kagame, the current President of Rwanda and leader of the RPF army which expelled the genocidal government in 1994, stands as a towering figure in Central Africa, yet debate over his place in history and direction of Rwanda today remains vitriolic among observers of Rwanda.
For some Kagame is a visionary leader and peace bringer. His remarkable “Rubicorn”, taking over a demoralised and defeated RPF army in 1990 and rebuilding it, isolated and alone, into a force that could defeat the French backed genocidal government of Habyarimana, remains a remarkable military feat. It arguably saved thousands of lives while the UN stood idle.
In the early years of his rule, many foreign commentators declared him a “Renaissance Leader”, one of a new generation of African governors who would end endemic problems of corruption and misrule. His reforms to the business environment of post-genocide Rwanda have been met with widespread approval, with Fortune magazine running an article entitled “Why CEOs love Rwanda”. His austere style, focus on domestic order and discipline have also won him a reputation as an impassive and tireless reformer. Yet for many Rwandans it has been Kagame’s ability to secure some measure of peace and security in the troubled state that is Kagame’s greatest achievement.
However, Kagame’s drive and discipline have a darker side. Amnesty International has reported extensively on widespread human rights violations by the security forces, particularly within the judicial system and against critical journalists. Multiparty democracy within the country has largely failed. More accusations accuse Kagame of ruthless annihilation of opposition; including the murder of Seth Sendashonga, a prominent opposition figure, in 1998. All of these factors have prompted increased nervousness among Western observers. Surely their idol could not have feet of clay. Surely Kagame could not have fallen to the same curse as Caesar – the lure of ultimate power?
The most dangerous accusation for Kagame, however, has been a persistent claim from many within and without Rwanda that he favours his minority Tutsi ethnicity over the majority Hutu. The uninvestigated abuses and killing of Hutus by RPF soldiers within Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo remain a significant challenge to his reputation for upholding the rule of law. To some it appears there is one law for the Hutu and one for Kagame’s Tutsi.
Yet perhaps the most Caesaresque of Kagame’s traits is his boundless ambition. On Rwanda’s chance of achieving South Asian style growth within a generation he categorically stated, “We can and we want to. We are convinced – very very convinced. We want to do it and we will”.
Despite the monumental challenges that face Rwanda in every sphere, Kagame is driven by this desire to achieve the “impossible”. Even this ambition is tempered with a darker side. Kagame’s expeditions into the DRC from 1998 – 2003, and use of the concept of “Greater Rwanda”, a medieval kingdom incorporating parts of the DRC, have led to accusation that he longs for territorial expansion. It is difficult to assess the seriousness of these claims, yet it is certainly true that Kagame has not shied away from operations on Congolese soil where it might be in the interests of Rwandans.
Who is this man Paul Kagame? Whatever the similarities, it would be the grossest simplification to simply dismiss him as a Caesar. He has boundless ambition, determination and discipline, yet these are coupled with a deeply ruthless streak. All of these are harnessed in his pursuit of a modern Rwanda, yet a Rwanda for whom? The Tutsi elite from which he hails, or all Rwandans, regardless of ethnicity?
Perhaps the best way to understand Kagame is through a quote, made on the 10th Anniversary of the genocide which shaped a nation. “We cannot turn the clock back nor can we undo the harm we caused but we have the power to determine the future and to ensure what happened never happens again.” Within this quote, we see the twin themes that have defined Kagame’s life; the genocide and a relentless drive for a Rwanda shaped in the image of his dream. Woe betide those who stand in his way.
It is too early to make a complete judgement on Kagame’s rule of Rwanda except to say this. It is tremendously difficult to understand or quantify the changes, complexities and tragedies the 1994 genocide has caused in modern Rwanda. Kagame, at tremendous human cost, has brought a measure of stability and governance to Rwanda, which, however temporary, has not be seen in several generations. Whether this is enough to secure his legacy and his dreams only time will tell.
