Kagame’s new role in Africa

Why ‘coup leaders’ are trooping to Kigali

Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | A visit by Gabon’s transitional leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, to Kigali, capital of Rwanda, on Oct. 16 could not go unnoticed. Nguema who came to power in a coup three months ago was beaming and looking like the new leader he is– in his military fatigues, while meeting Rwandan President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village, the president’s office.

An official statement from Urugwiro Village said the two leaders discussed “the ongoing transitional process in Gabon, the security situation on the continent” among other issues.

But Gabon’s coup leader is not the only one who has flown to Kigali to glean insights from the man hailed for turning around Rwanda from its tragic history into a beacon of good governance and topping global indicators on healthcare, technology and social welfare.

In March 2022, Idriss Déby Itno, Chairman of Transitional Military Council and President of the Republic of Chad, was in Kigali where he had meetings with Kagame. Deby Itno took power at the age of 37 after his father, former president Idriss Deby, was killed in April 2021 while commanding forces at the frontline as Chad launched an attack on a rebel group in the northern part of the country.

Although not exactly a coup in the Niger fashion, it was a bizarre incident that many interpreted as a possible power grab from the ambitious young Deby. Weeks after he assumed power, Deby sent his younger brother, Abdelkerim Deby Itno, whom he had appointed as Director of Cabinet, to Kigali to act as his Special Envoy to President Kagame.

A year later, Chad’s new leader with his delegation was meeting Kagame in Rwanda where the two countries signed cooperation agreements. Kagame commended the young leader for his efforts at bringing peace and stability to his country after the death of his long-ruling father. The elder Deby had ruled Chad since 1990.

In April, Guinea President Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, invited Kagame for a working visit to the country that is mostly known for the coup frenzy that brought the towering Doumbouya to power in 2021. While in Guinea, Kagame visited the Prytanée Militaire (the country’s military academy) which according to an official statement, is training the next generation of leaders. The new breed of leaders arising from the discontent plaguing African nations appear to have struck a chord with Kagame who comes from a different generation that fought revolutionary wars and captured power.

In September, Kagame paid another visit to the 43-year-old Doumboya who was marking his second anniversary in power. Doumbouya, famous for his flamboyant military uniforms and imposing body stature, dwarfs Kagame who is tall by any measure. A statement from Kagame’s office said their discussions focused on trade and investment, and digitisation of public services.

Gabon, Chad and Guinea-Conakry have experienced coups in the last three years as their citizens exasperated with corruption, high taxes, breakdown of social services, unending rule agitate for better services, more responsive governments at a time of deep citizen unrest. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger located in the same troubled Sahel region have also experienced putsches in the last few years.

Rwanda is a top destination for presidents, business leaders, innovators and celebrities. It has also established itself as a host of major conferences such as the just concluded Mobile World Congress held in Kigali. The event traditionally happened in Barcelona, Spain. Rwanda is also renowned for its calendar events like the Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony that attracts thousands of visitors.

And now President Kagame is carving a niche as an elder statesman providing advice and mentorship to newly minted African leaders emerging through coups in the last three years. The young military leaders are conferring with the 66-year-old Rwandan leader on a range of issues as they seek to improve the state of affairs in their countries at a time of rising cost of living and insecurity in West and Central Africa.

Pundits had expressed concern about the trajectory of Chad because like a number of countries in West Africa, it had experienced a sudden violent change of power. Official statements from Kigali did not state exactly what Kagame discussed with the leaders of Chad and Gabon. It was also not possible to get a comment from Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo.

General commentary however revolved around Kagame’s ability to create security and stability in a country that was written off in 1994 after a genocide against the Tutsi and what the two leaders could learn from their elder counterpart.

Kagame has come to be seen as a strong hand on security matters that has possibly attracted the new leaders who could be wary of falling to the same fate as their predecessors if they do not play their cards well.

Rwanda’s peacekeeping role

Kagame’s outsized role on security has been noted elsewhere. In May 2022, US Africa Command (US AFRICOM) Gen. Stephen Townsend met with Kagame in Kigali to discuss ongoing security cooperation between US AFRICOM and Rwanda. This was in recognition of Rwanda’s role in peacekeeping on the continent.

In July 2021, Rwanda deployed a 1000-person contingent to Mozambique involving Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police for combat and security operations. Mozambique requested for the deployment after skirmishes and incidents of terrorism in its northern Cabo Delgado province where hundreds of Mozambicans were killed.

Rwanda has nearly 3000 personnel in a UN stabilsation mission called MINUSCA in Central African Republic in 2021. Rwanda also has an estimated 1,000 troops in C.A.R. on a different bilateral arrangement; a factor that has caused friction on some occasions due to the arcane rules of peacekeeping missions. Rwanda is the fourth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions with 5943 personnel as of July 2023 per UN peacekeeping data.

Rwandan troops provide security to C.A.R. President Faustin-Archange Touadera and his inner circle according to The East African. “Touadera is more comfortably in power, but much like Uganda did in Amisom, his security is wholly overseen by the Rwandans. At Touadera’s State House and in his convoy, the outer security circle is manned by stern-faced Rwandans,” the paper reported in 2022.

Due to Touadera’s fragile hold on power and as a result of Rwanda’s role in keeping him fortified, the C.A.R leader has been to Kigali three times in the last two years; the last visit happening in June. At his last visit to Kagame, the two discussed the security challenges in C.A.R. The country has a violent history where it has suffered about a dozen coups since independence. It has been riven by religious strife where clashes between Christian and Muslim groups have taken place.

Criticism

As Rwanda has received praise for its role in bringing peace and stability to C.A.R., it has also faced criticism that usually comes with the presence of troops on any foreign soil. A report by the International Crisis Group released in June titled ‘Rwanda’s Growing Role in the Central Africa Republic’ had some words of caution for the tiny East African nation that punches above its weight.

“Rwanda should explain the nature of its support for the Central African state, offering details of the military and economic agreements signed with Bangui and the actions taken to date. It should communicate more clearly its role in strengthening institutions and good governance in CAR,” the Brussels-based ICG stated.

The report urged Rwanda to separate its military and economic activities in CAR, so as not to be seen as a “predatory force” and thus expose Rwandan entrepreneurs to violence. The report noted that Central Africans support the presence of Rwandan soldiers but see Kigali’s business ventures as unfair competition.

“It should move the bulk of its bilaterally deployed units away from the sites of its various business ventures back to places where they are needed to enhance public safety,” the report stated and added, “At the very least, Kigali’s bilateral forces could extend their escorts to non-Rwandan businesspeople working in the same areas. Kigali naturally wishes to protect its nationals, but assigning most of its troops to guard Rwandan businesses and mining concessions diverts firepower that would be better used to make the Central African population more secure.”

In sum, the report stated that before Rwanda begins training the Central African army, the time is right to clarify the objectives of its military support as Central Africans consider rebuilding the army a top priority in stabilising the country.

President Kagame has also faced strong criticism for Rwanda’s interventions in DR Congo where Rwanda is routinely accused of fueling instability. Ironically, leaders of countries scrambling for stability have been trooping to Kigali for lessons on leadership.

Kagame has reveled in his role– eager to provide advice to new leaders in Africa– at a time of collapsing states. Having already announced his re-election bid for the 2024 polls, Kagame seems to be preparing for this expanded role once re-elected.