Rwanda fights back against Belgium. President Paul Kagame refused to bow down under pressure after Belgium put sanctions against his country. He spoke out loud at a public meeting with citizens in Kigali last Sunday. The tough talk came because Belgium thinks Rwanda helps rebel fighters in eastern Congo.
Kagame looked straight at history when he fired back at Belgium. He reminded everyone how Belgium caused harm to Rwanda as its former ruler. He asked who gave Belgium any right to boss Rwanda around today. The president promised his nation would stand tall against these threats even with limited resources at hand.
Belgium leads a group of Western nations pushing for harsh money restrictions against Rwanda. They want to cut off aid money, stop Rwanda from using international banks, and block trade for important minerals. Kagame calls these moves nothing but old-style colonial bullying from Europe trying to control Africa again.
Rwanda spent years under Belgian control until 1962, when it became free. Before that, Germans ran Rwanda starting in 1885 until Belgium took over during World War I. The League of Nations made it official in 1924. Belgian rulers started marking identity cards with ethnic labels by 1930, which split apart Rwandan people into groups that later fed the terrible killings of 1994.
The president warned his people to expect hard days ahead because foreign powers want to slow down Rwandan progress. He compared it to past struggles when people gave their lives to free the country. Kagame said standing firm takes real courage against powerful enemies who want to push you down.
He rejected claims about Rwanda starting trouble in Congo. The president blamed old colonial map-drawing that left many Rwandan people on the wrong side of borders. He asked why Rwanda catches the blame for problems it never created. Kagame argued that if Congo wants to send these people back to Rwanda, they should include the land where these families have lived for generations.
Several United Nations reports say Rwanda does help M23 fighters with soldiers and supplies. Kagame is angry about this situation because he believes world leaders ignore Congo's bad actions but punish Rwanda. He stated clearly that when people face unfair treatment, they must stand up for their basic rights.
Rwanda wants respect on the world stage as an equal partner. Kagame promised his country would not accept orders from any foreign power about how to handle its affairs. He especially resents Western countries that look away when Congo breaks the rules but rush to blame Rwanda. The president ended with a promise that Rwanda would defend itself against anyone who tries to push it around.
Kagame looked straight at history when he fired back at Belgium. He reminded everyone how Belgium caused harm to Rwanda as its former ruler. He asked who gave Belgium any right to boss Rwanda around today. The president promised his nation would stand tall against these threats even with limited resources at hand.
Belgium leads a group of Western nations pushing for harsh money restrictions against Rwanda. They want to cut off aid money, stop Rwanda from using international banks, and block trade for important minerals. Kagame calls these moves nothing but old-style colonial bullying from Europe trying to control Africa again.
Rwanda spent years under Belgian control until 1962, when it became free. Before that, Germans ran Rwanda starting in 1885 until Belgium took over during World War I. The League of Nations made it official in 1924. Belgian rulers started marking identity cards with ethnic labels by 1930, which split apart Rwandan people into groups that later fed the terrible killings of 1994.
The president warned his people to expect hard days ahead because foreign powers want to slow down Rwandan progress. He compared it to past struggles when people gave their lives to free the country. Kagame said standing firm takes real courage against powerful enemies who want to push you down.
He rejected claims about Rwanda starting trouble in Congo. The president blamed old colonial map-drawing that left many Rwandan people on the wrong side of borders. He asked why Rwanda catches the blame for problems it never created. Kagame argued that if Congo wants to send these people back to Rwanda, they should include the land where these families have lived for generations.
Several United Nations reports say Rwanda does help M23 fighters with soldiers and supplies. Kagame is angry about this situation because he believes world leaders ignore Congo's bad actions but punish Rwanda. He stated clearly that when people face unfair treatment, they must stand up for their basic rights.
Rwanda wants respect on the world stage as an equal partner. Kagame promised his country would not accept orders from any foreign power about how to handle its affairs. He especially resents Western countries that look away when Congo breaks the rules but rush to blame Rwanda. The president ended with a promise that Rwanda would defend itself against anyone who tries to push it around.
