Page 11 - Demo

LeadershipISSUE 36 APRIL 2025 11THE KAGAMEEFFECTBy: Samuel PhillipsWhen Quitting Makes SensePaul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, is regularly in the news, either for good or for bad. But one thing I like about the man is that he is not confused like many of our African leaders about what he wants as the leader of one of the most organized, clean, and progressive countries in Africa. Now, I like the idea of visiting Rwanda soon, which, by the way, is a visafree country for all Africans on the continent. So, welcome to Rwanda.I know it%u2019s very difficult to separate Kagame, the man who is doing well for Rwanda in terms of development and upholding Rwandan values, from the man who is believed to be the initiator of the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and the backbone of some of the atrocities that have happened in the DRC. But I hope to find a balance.On March 17, 2025, Rwanda%u2019s President Paul Kagame cut diplomatic ties with Belgium and ordered all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. The decision came after Belgium led calls for European nations to sanction Rwanda over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rwanda accused Belgium of %u201clies and manipulation%u201d and said Rwanda had been %u201cconsistently undermined%u201d during the ongoing conflict in the DRC by Belgium. In response, Belgium declared Rwandan diplomats persona non grata and expelled them from the country.