Africa — Hopeless to Hopeful via Rwanda

Narayanappa Janardhan and Nickolay Mladenov

Very few places in the world leave a positive impact on first-time visitors as Rwanda did for us. We expected telling signs of the genocide that tore the fabric of the country with nearly a million deaths in a few months three decades ago. Instead, it showcased why The Economist magazine published diametrically opposite cover titles about Africa between 2000 and 2012 – hopeless to hopeful, respectively. Rwanda is part of the change that has facilitated sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP to triple and average incomes to more than double over the last two decades. Below are 10 takeaways that make Rwanda a poster child of what Africa could be in the future.

First, it is the cleanest, safest and least corrupt country in Africa — a potential ‘Singapore’ of Africa. It has evidently impressive landscape, natural beauty and infrastructure, with people contributing weekly time towards the upkeep of their neighbourhood.

Second, this transformation is a product of visionary and dynamic leadership. While there are several critics of President Paul Kagame, there is no doubt that his rule has delivered results unlike few or none in the region. While the measure of prosperity is relative, his greatest legacy is unifying the country after the genocide, minimising the division between Hutus and Tutsis and maximising the integration of the two cultures. His healing touch is epitomised in this unusual measure: the family of one of the commanders that led the genocide continues to receive government assistance.

Third, every great leader needs an equally good band of followers. The overall unity and reconciliation policy, which included a new constitution, would not have yielded results but for the role of the community members in the Gacaca Courts. A system of transitional justice, the word means ‘short grass’, a reference to the public space where local elders met to solve local problems. These courts started on a trial basis in 2002 and became operational throughout the country in 2007. The main message was not retribution, but communal healing and rebuilding. ‘Forgive, but don’t forget’ was the clarion call! While there may still be subaltern undercurrents, the healing process has miraculously worked, serving as a potential template for other enduring conflicts management or resolution efforts in the world.

Fourth, the political process was complemented by economic reforms. A traditional agrarian economy, the food processing industry, for example, is adding value. Coffee, fruits and vegetables, among others, are getting innovative indigenous product twists and new markets, leading to additional revenue. This is being facilitated by African economic integration, especially in the East. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement was also signed in Rwanda in 2018. And RwandAir, along with a few others, now connects Africans within Africa, without having to fly out of the continent even for domestic travel.

Five, connectivity has given an impetus to economic diversification — especially tourism and hospitality sectors, which includes conferences galore. Rather than blindly commercialise their natural resources, especially gorillas in the wild, by encouraging mass tourism, Kigali promotes high-end ecotourism. At nearly $2,000 for a day safari and several times more for overnight stay, it attracts only the rich and famous seeking exclusivity. Simultaneously, the government keeps all segments of tourists interested in another way — visa on arrival, without exception, for every nationality of the world.

Six, tying all these dynamics is technology. While the buzzword around the world is artificial intelligence, Rwanda and Africa showcase a model of low tech in the age of high tech. Archaic office-processed pen-and-paper licences are making way for e-governance driven by IREMBO. Combining with ‘cash is no longer king’ signboards everywhere, corruption has also been addressed relatively well. Cameras along all main streets has added security to citizens and tourists alike.

Seven, many of these instruments of change wouldn’t have been possible without the emphasis on education. The knowledge economy drive is immense and evident. Schools, colleges and universities are not just championing tech-driven experiments and research to find local solutions to local problems, but clubbing them with training in entrepreneurship to ensure that the youth are self-employed rather than be dependent on government jobs.

Eight, socio-economic engineering includes women’s empowerment. Women account for about 61% of the Rwandan parliament and 55% of ministerial positions, both among the highest in the world. With a per capita income of about $1,000, it could have encouraged blanket export of workforce to shore up its economy via remittances. Instead, it discourages blue-collar workers from working abroad, to minimise their exploitation and to serve as an incentive to upskill themselves and lead a more dignified life wherever they work.

Nine, the new foreign policy orientation is another factor in the mix. Like many African countries, Rwanda, the ‘small-big country,’ is also pursuing South-South cooperation. China, India, the UAE, and Qatar, and a few others, are proactive partners in pursuit of win-win projects.

Finally, for all the Afro-sceptics, if Rwanda is any example, Hakuna Matata (don’t worry), Africa, with its growing population and the need to just meet their basic necessities, is on the cusp of a massive and comprehensive transformation, even if relative to the rest of the world.

Narayanappa Janardhan is Director of Research and Nickolay Mladenov is Director-General, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Abu Dhabi.