Mushikiwabo calls for people-centred leadership

African leaders should focus on issues that directly appeal to citizens such as peace, security and development, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, has said. Mushikiwabo was on Wednesday addressing officers from various countries who are meeting at Rwanda Peace Academy in Musanze District, under the aegis of the Military Attachés Association. She challenged the officers to draw strategies that ensure conflict resolution and at the same time protecting citizens who are in most cases caught between enemy lines and often called “collateral damage.” Mushikiwabo said Africans should not be just sit and complain about external forces but instead seek means to address their own challenges. “International politics is not helpful in Africa because when we sit down to solve a problem, we want to come out with a piece of document. In most cases, these documents don’t help when seeking solutions to problems faced by our people. We need to be practical,” she said. Mushikiwabo said despite the many discussions both at the regional and international levels, and the many reports produced about the conflict in DR Congo, there seem to be no clear solution in sight.“There has been endless conflict in Congo. Saying the world is seeking solutions in DR Congo is a political lie; the problems were caused by the Congolese and they should be central in seeking a solution to the conflict,” Mushikiwabo said in a presentation titled, “Effort in resolving current conflicts in Africa – the way forward.” The officers said Africans should strive to seek solutions for the problems the continent faces instead of waiting for external support, which they said comes with conditions. “Problems in Africa are caused by us and it is up to us to find solutions,” said Brig. Vincent Ntundwe, the dean of the defence attachés representing their countries at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia.

National

Mushikiwabo calls for people-centred leadership