Declonizing Minds: President Kagame Addresses Colonial Mentalities and Regional Challenges

Our Reporter

On March 16, 2025, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda delivered a compelling speech in Kigali, addressing pressing national concerns and challenging lingering colonialist mentalities. He pointed out the paradox of Belgium—a former colonizer of Rwanda and other regional countries—leading efforts to impose sanctions on Rwanda amidst the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This conflict involves the AFC/M23 fighting against a coalition that includes the DRC Army, FDLR/Interahamwe, and Wazalendo, among others. While Rwanda continues to raise its voice to shed light on the root causes of conflicts in the DRC, other countries remain largely silent, often perceiving Belgium as a savior. Despite the DRC receiving support from superpowers, it has consistently failed to achieve peace in the eastern region, where thousands of Congolese have lost their lives, particularly due to their resemblance to Rwandans. Experts have warned the world about the genocide being committed against the Banyamulenge, a group of Tutsi and Kinyarwanda-speaking individuals living in eastern DRC, who are also at risk from genocidal forces aiming to kill Rwandans.

Belgium has faced criticism for its longstanding influence and failure to promote stability in the region while simultaneously fostering divisive politics among Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. President Kagame emphasized that significant actions would be taken against the Belgian government in light of these issues, highlighting the ethnic cleansing that continues to afflict the region.

In his address, President Kagame urged Rwandans to prepare for potential sacrifices in the coming days as they strive to find resolutions to these pressing issues.