Secretary Antony Blinken, This is What We Rwandans Think of Your Planned Visit
The statement went farther to add that in addition to other issues outlined therein, you “will also raise democracy and human rights concerns, including transnational repression, limiting space for dissent and political opposition, and the wrongful detention of U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Paul Rusesabagina.”
First, let me welcome you to Rwanda in advance. You and your delegation will add on to the visitors eagerly coming to Rwanda as it has fully opened up. And by the way, Rwanda welcomed 1.63 million international visitors in 2019, which is before the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Back to the more serious issues. This communication is to share with you what we Rwandans think about your visit. Without wasting much of your time, we think it is a continuation of American paternalism and degrading attitude towards Rwanda and the African continent in general.
Your visit is continuation of the double standards with which the American elite view the rest of the world. Something is right when it fits your interests, in complete disregard of the feelings, customs, rights and everything the other societies stand for. In other words you choose what is right for everyone else.
It is terrorism when you say it is. But then it is human rights when other nations act the same way as you. If Rusesabagina’s FLN rebels had attacked “American allies and national security interests”, he would have been international enemy number one.
Nine people were killed including young souls and 102 victims who lost their life’s work as others became disabled in an instant. But somehow, Rusesabagina is a human rights campaigner, according to your choice of how he has to be seen.
In the recent letter, deliberately leaked to maintain the demeaning view of Rwanda, its people and leadership, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez points out the obvious. The United States gives Rwanda financial and other security assistance. Last year, we received $147m and other support.
Whereas the people of Rwanda are grateful for this partnership, it shouldn’t be the reason to be looked down on. Even though you Secretary Blinken or any of your American colleagues have not said categorically that you have the right to disrespect Rwanda and all in it, the acts, especially the most recent speak exactly to that. We are convinced the America you represent wants to keep us in bondage.
For urbanised Rwandan youth with access to the internet, the America they view and read about today isn’t necessarily the one America’s unrivalled soft power juggernaut, Hollywood, portrays. A significant amount of bandwidth is instead taken up watching black people being murdered by a clearly systemically racist police force and the ensuing consequences. However, it is also part of the fundamental dynamism of US democracy that your boss President Joe Biden and his team have made so many policy U-turns since taking office.
Rwandans have interests, which, whether you like or not, they will pursue. The Rwanda of pre 1994 is not the one today. It will not be apologetic for looking out for itself. It cannot fold its hands as terrorists plot to cause us mayhem.
The former top Singaporean diplomat, academic and author of Has China Won?, Kishore Mahbubani, shares our sentiments. He wrote that the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the shift of global power from West to East. He points out that from 1AD until 1820 the world’s largest economies were India and China and that the last 200 years of Western domination are a historical aberration. All aberrations ultimately end.
Secretary Blinken, I think you are convinced the people of Rwanda have no alternative but be at your mercy. That was way back; when there was capitalism verses communism.
Whereas ideology and the practicalities of the struggle for independence were at the heart of the Cold War relationship, for Rwandans, they need friends who feel their pain when terrorists attack their villages. It is partly for that reason that they see China today is first and foremost a development partner.
The engagement with China has been transformative, especially in regard to the development of critical infrastructure. This cannot be argued with. When you come to Kigali, you will see that for yourself.
And this transformation has taken place with unprecedented speed, changing skylines in Rwanda and across the Africa continent which has some of the world’s fastest growing cities and the world’s youngest, most rapidly growing population.
We the people of Rwanda no longer need you to treat us like second class race. Of course, we cannot make you think or act the way we wish. It is why we go for our interests, without expecting anyone’s goodwill.
I hope you receive my communication, which is a humble contribution that could help you rethink how you will approach your visit to Rwanda.
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