London, 7 October 2018
President Kagame today attended Mo Ibrahim Foundation Board Meeting in London. The meeting brought together participants from the public and private sector to discuss a wide range of topics pertaining to Africa including the institutional reforms underway at the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the continent’s economic transformation.
Sharing his thoughts on Africa’s relations with different parts of the globe, President Kagame highlighted that the key for sustainable relations with the African Continent is to move beyond humanitarian mindset.
“The key for both sides, Europe and Africa, is to move beyond the humanitarian mindset and instead focus the relationship on making Africa a priority destination for industrial investment, possibly working in a tripartite fashion. Why not have Europe, Africa, and China working together instead of having one worried about the other over Africa. You have Europe worried about China in Africa and then you have China worrying about Europe in Africa. Since Africa is a common denominator we could maybe meet around that and find some way,” President Kagame said.
Speaking about the issue of Africans’ migration to western countries, the President pointed out that the issue can’t be tackled in isolation.
“We have to construct a stable, long-term framework. First priority is to stop harm for migrants. ‘Deterrence by death’ is an inhumane policy and it is not reducing flows,” President Kagame said.
Chaired by Sudanese-British businessman Mo Ibrahim, the Board Meeting was also attended by former Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Festus Mogae of Botswana, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Other high-level participants included Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Executive Secretary Vera Songwe.