The Rwandan Community in the U.S. converged in Arlington, Virginia, over the weekend, to deliberate on ways through which to scale-up their participation in Rwanda’s development.

The leadership retreat discussed how to strengthen cooperation between the Rwandan embassy in the US and the Rwandan Diaspora community in bid to bring about collective and equal participation in national matters, as much as their compatriots back in Rwanda.

The meeting was presided over by Lawrence Manzi, the First Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires at the embassy, who noted—that collective participation of Rwandan community in the Diaspora would cause sustainable development, according to a statement.

"I call upon Diaspora leaders to work with community members in finding solutions to the issues the Diaspora community faces, and tap into the skills of the community to address relevant needs, at hand,” Manzi is quoted saying.

Manzi emphasised the importance of ownership and engaged citizenry in the Rwandan community, and called for better coordination throughout the U.S–based Rwandan Diaspora.

In a prerecorded video message to the participants, Mathilde Mukantabana, the Rwandan Ambassador to the US, reiterated the need for better coordination to ensuring the set goals of the Diaspora community are achieved.

Brig. Gen. Innocent Kabandana, the Defense Attaché at the Rwandan embassy in Washington, DC ,urged participants to commit to their country’s development agenda.

"Being an asset to your country requires that one attends to their obligations. Doing this involves added value in knowledge, character, and humanity.”

He urged Rwandans in the Diaspora to be a representation of what Rwanda is today.

Dr Clet Niyikiza, one of the participants, called on fellow compatriots to promote the interests of Rwanda.