Rwanda as Africa’s Rising Center of Power? Three Decades of Post-Genocide Development

In April 2024, Rwanda commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Tutsi genocide, which claimed the lives of almost 800 thousand people. The consequences of this tragedy still affect all aspects of the political and economic life of the country, including the relationship between representatives of its two largest peoples – the Tutsi and the Hutu, who strive, although not always successfully, to live in peace and harmony. The government of Paul Kagame is actively promoting the ideology of “Rwandanness”, i.e. blurring the lines between different ethnic groups, and pursues the policy of “national unity”, but selective repression carried out with impunity by security forces and the provision of special preferences to Tutsis in the areas of employment, education, etc. hinder the integration process. Largely due to Western assistance, the regime managed to achieve considerable success in the economic field, although inequality between different groups of the population persists, becoming an important conflict factor. While successfully ensuring its survival through total control, the Kagame regime simultaneously creates the preconditions for problems that future generations of Rwandans may have to face.