In a powerful and thought-provoking address delivered at the Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast on 15 September 2024, President Paul Kagame challenged religious leaders and their followers to adopt more critical thinking and take responsibility for the well-being of society.

His speech tackled deep-rooted issues, urging Rwandans to reflect on the lessons from their painful history and resist those who manipulate faith for personal gain.

Kagame's speech was not only a call for introspection but also a warning against allowing complacency to foster environments where harmful behaviors thrive, particularly when cloaked in religious or spiritual rhetoric.

His message, laced with a mixture of concern and candid criticism, aimed to challenge the misuse of faith and the dangers that come from passivity in the face of destructive practices.

He urged his audience to avoid being deceived by those who exploit religious beliefs for harmful purposes and to actively engage in protecting the gains Rwanda has made since the Genocide Against Tutsi.

President Kagame began by questioning the tendency of some religious followers to accept deception and manipulation without questioning.

He asked, "Are you the kind of people who are always easily deceived and abused, but still choose to follow those who do them wrong? You don’t even ask what’s happening?”

In these words, Kagame urged Rwandans to look beyond blind faith and develop a mindset of critical inquiry. This, he emphasized, was especially important given Rwanda's unique historical context, where the country and its people have faced immense challenges, including the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

The President’s reference to personal and national history— "You don’t even compare it with what you have been through, what your family went through, as well as what/those you lost”—was a plain reminder that the lessons of the past should inform current decisions.

He challenged religious followers to remember the deep scars of their collective experience and apply that understanding to ensure that Rwanda never again falls victim to destructive forces.

Kagame’s statement underscores a crucial principle: faith and belief systems should not be weaponized to undermine progress, unity, or the safety of the people.

Speaking out against harmful practices

President Kagame highlighted the importance of speaking out against practices that have the potential to harm society. While acknowledging the positive achievements Rwanda has made—socially, economically, and politically—he asked a sobering question: "Will we remain silent about the other things that might destroy us? Things that can even ruin our gains, and we choose to keep quiet about them?”

His message was a recap that silence in the face of wrongdoing can be as dangerous as the wrongdoing itself.

Kagame’s speech pointed to specific instances where lives were lost due to misleading or dangerous religious practices.

He noted, "I can even give examples of people who lost their lives in this... people lost their lives in those caves where they had gone to pray. There are even those who ended up dying because they had been told that some people can cure their illnesses and they didn’t seek proper medical care.”

In highlighting these tragic examples, Kagame urged religious leaders to ensure their practices promote well-being rather than endanger the lives of their followers. He questioned how such dangerous ideologies could thrive in Rwanda, a country that had already endured so much suffering.

Kagame’s critique of these harmful religious practices exposed the paradox of some leaders who claim to act in the name of God but, in reality, place their followers in harm's way.

His condemnation of such behavior was clear: "Those who do such things should first treat themselves because they are the ones who are obviously sick.” In this statement, Kagame boldly suggested that those who perpetuate harmful ideologies under the guise of religion are the ones who need healing and should be held accountable for their actions.

Manipulation of faith for personal gain

One of the most striking elements of Kagame’s speech was his denunciation of the manipulation of faith for personal or political gain. He spoke out about how some people "hide behind the name of God to commit atrocities,” a statement that likely resonated with those familiar with Rwanda's history. During the Genocide Against the Tutsi, religious institutions and leaders were complicit in some of the atrocities, and Kagame’s words reminded Rwandans of the dangers of allowing history to repeat itself under different guises.

Kagame directly addressed those who had criticized the government’s stance on certain religious practices, particularly the closure of some churches. He said, "Some of you gave the impression that the Rwandan government rose up to fight against faith, against religions.” He criticized this misrepresentation, noting that some have tried to weaponize religion against the state for their own agendas.

He was unequivocal in his stance: the government’s actions are not an attack on faith but rather a defense of public safety and well-being. He warned those who use such accusations as a form of intimidation, asserting that such tactics would not work. "If you do that thinking that you are threatening some of us with intimidation, that won’t happen,” Kagame firmly stated.

In Kagame’s remarks, the issue of religious leaders claiming divine authority to justify immoral acts was central. He asked another profound question: "Does God tell you when he appears to you that you should go and kill people or lie or even steal from them?” This rhetorical question calls out the contradiction between the fundamental teachings of faith—love, truth, and justice—and the way some have distorted religion to justify violence, deceit, and exploitation.

The president’s critique can be seen as a denunciation of those who hide behind religious titles and use divine authority to commit atrocities, manipulate followers, and maintain control. Kagame’s question cuts to the core of religious hypocrisy, where God’s name is invoked not for righteous purposes but to justify heinous deeds.

Rwanda, a country that witnessed religious complicity during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, understands this issue on a deeply personal level. Many religious figures stood by or even participated in the genocide, all while claiming to act in line with their faith.

Upholding the right path for Rwanda’s future

Throughout his speech, President Kagame emphasized the importance of following a reasonable and constructive path. "Do the right thing that is known to you, that reasonable people do, and that the country needs to continue rebuilding,” he advised. His message was one of unity and progress—urging religious leaders to help build a Rwanda that is based on truth, reason, and shared responsibility, rather than one torn apart by division, deception, or exploitation.

Kagame’s call to avoid manipulation and blind allegiance was a rallying call for the continued vigilance of Rwandans. "You cannot turn our Rwandan society into something you mislead as you please, pulling it in all directions,” he declared. He reminded his audience that the country has already suffered enough, and that its people deserve a future free from the abuses and deceptions of the past.

President Kagame’s speech culminated in a powerful rejection of the abuses Rwandans have endured throughout history. "We have been abused enough, we don’t want to be abused ever again,” he declared. This sentiment encapsulated the essence of his message: Rwanda's hard-won peace and progress should not be taken for granted, nor should they be jeopardized by those who seek to exploit the people’s faith or manipulate the country’s history for selfish ends.

His final call was for Rwandans to be vigilant, to reject those who attempt to lead them astray, and to ensure that the country’s future is built on a foundation of truth, reason, and integrity.

Kagame’s challenge to religious leaders and their followers was clear: embrace critical thinking, speak out against harmful practices, and reject those who hide behind faith to commit acts that harm society. Only by doing so can Rwanda continue to build a future worthy of its people’s resilience and strength.

In a country that has known the dangers of blind obedience and manipulation all too well, Kagame’s call for critical thinking and responsibility is a reminder that faith and reason must go hand in hand if Rwanda is to continue building a future free from the abuses of the past.