Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on September 25 addressed students at the Africa School of Governance (ASG) in Kigali, where he launched the school’s third university-level governance program. The intake brings together 51 students from 14 African countries, including Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Responding to a student’s question about what keeps him awake at night, Kagame said his greatest concern is how Rwandans—and Africans more broadly—can work together to overcome recurring challenges such as poverty, insecurity, and division.
“As a leader, I constantly ask myself how we can move out of these problems. But it is not just my role alone. Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute to solutions,” he said, stressing that national development cannot be left to leaders only.
Kagame also warned of external interference, saying powerful nations often impose their interests on Africa under the guise of support. He described this as one of the continent’s toughest struggles.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, co-founder of ASG, hailed Kagame as a model of effective leadership and an inspiration for young Africans.
Since opening in October 2023, ASG has sought to build a new generation of African leaders equipped to strengthen governance and drive transformation across the continent.
