Abidjan, 20 December 2018
On the last day of his State Visit to Côte d’Ivoire, President Kagame was honoured by Abidjan political leaders and traditional chiefs who awarded him the city’s Honorary Citizenship and presented him with ceremony keys.
The President also interacted with members of the private sector and other business leaders operating in Côte d’Ivoire. In a discussion that focused on free trade, industrialisation, and integration across the African continent, the Head of State pointed out that a few decades ago, African countries were at the same level of development as some Asian countries, which have now advanced where Africa has stagnated.
“Determination to make progress is not limited to a few individuals. Everyone has the right, every individual has to play their part. For me, we share this broadly in Rwanda, any situation where people remain poor should make us angry. If you feel you are not satisfied and want to get out of it, the dissatisfaction gives you the energy to do just that. Why should Africans survive on the kindness and generosity of foreigners? People in this room have different backgrounds, have learned and taught in universities abroad. Why not use this to change our situation? Africans have the capacities and possibilities to change our continent,” President Kagame said.
President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame were, later in the evening, seen off at Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport by President Alassane Ouattara and First Lady Dominique Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire as they concluded their two-day State Visit.