The efficiency of a President at the beginning of his term depends on their capacity to get everything under control. That was my case. But once the institutions have been put in place, and the responsibilities delegated, the leader becomes a reference, a referee, a symbol and unifying figure for the nation. The issue is how and when to recognize the moment when staying in power becomes counterproductive.

National security is vital for economic and social progress.

Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our story.

I grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda, and I lived there for 30 years. That shapes one's character.

It is the first time in the history of Rwanda that political change in the highest leadership of the country has taken place in peace and security.

When people accuse us of taking coltan from Congo, I don't understand what they mean. The quality of our own coltan here from Rwanda is much better. But still people from the UN come here, we show them our coltan mines, we show them the documents, then they go and say: Rwanda smuggles coltan.

The situation in Congo shows nothing for which you could hold Rwanda responsible.