Hungry for Truth, Peace and Justice

Kagame attacks Mo Ibrahim, accuses west of “polluting Africa”

By RNA Reporter
October 13, 2009

Kigali: President Paul Kagame has again fired at the west with the strongest criticism so far - praising the way China does business in Africa, and accusing the West for basing relations with the continent on aid. Huge Chinese investment in African companies and infrastructure is helping Africa develop, Mr. Kagame who is back in the country from a tour of the US and Europe, told a German newspaper.

Meanwhile, back home, on Friday amidst hundreds of government officials and diplomats, the President bitterly slammed the Mo Ibrahim Foundation $5m award for African leaders who leave power gracefully.

Annual trade between China and Africa is now worth more than $100bn (£63bn).

Trade between China and Rwanda could hit $100million this year – with massive aid targeting infrastructure flowing into Kigali from Beijing. Chinese tech infrastructure firm Huawei Technologies is also providing the technology for Rwandatel.

Chinese companies are active across Africa, but have been criticised by some in the West, who accuse Beijing of failing to promote good governance.

Chinese firms, many of them state-owned, regularly bid for major construction projects at costs which Western firms cannot match.

In addition, Beijing also operates a policy of non-interference in domestic affairs.

That has allowed China to do business in areas of Africa, such as Sudan, where Western firms are constrained by human rights concerns.

Old problems

Speaking to the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, Mr. Kagame - seen in the West as one of Africa's more dynamic leaders - was as critical of the West as he was generous in praise of China.

"The Chinese bring what Africa needs: investment and money for governments and companies," he said in the lengthy interview.

"China is investing in infrastructure and building roads," he said, adding that European and American involvement "has not brought Africa forward".

"Western firms have to a large extent polluted Africa and they are still doing it," Mr Kagame said.

Although Rwanda received substantial international aid in the wake of the 1994 genocide, which left more than a million people, Mr Kagame told Handelsblatt that relations based more on trade than aid were now the most useful to Africa.

"I would prefer the Western world to invest in Africa rather than handing out development aid," he said.

"There is a need for help - but it should be implemented in such a way as to enable trade and build up companies."

The Rwandan leader also said that high trade tariffs prevented African producers from gaining equitable access to global markets.

"It would help Africa much more if industrialised countries allowed us the same trade rights as they give to each other," Mr Kagame said.

On Friday as the President presented the two high-profile awards he got on his trip in the US, he said the $5m program of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation was not anything to go by – accusing the Foundation of being among the country’s possible detractors.

Last month, the Mo Ibrahim Index rated Rwanda way below even all the other regional neighbours in terms of governance – leaving observers wondering why other rating agencies holding Rwanda is such high regard. The Ibrahim Index ranked Mauritius as the best governed country on the continent.

Mr. Kagame told his audience that available information indicated he was a strong candidate to get the million-dollar prize. However, the President alleges that aligning himself with the view of controversial Zambian economist and academic Dambisa Moyo against foreign aid, is what made the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to shift its position on Rwanda.

“I am not worthy that little money,” he said in a mixture of English and Kinyarwanda. “I am worthy my value and my people. I can actually provide them that money if requested.”

Mr. Kagame essentially adds his voice to that of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni – who has also bitterly criticised the Mo Ibrahim dollars, which have already been awarded to former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano.

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Africa: Rwanda Named World's Top Business Reformer

posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 10:47 PM