Paul Kagame talks on Africa’s development, highlights continent’s debt from China

While speaking in Los Angeles at the 2019 Milken Institute Global Conference during a panel discussion titled 'Global Overview: Measuring the Winds of Change', President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame said that Africa must be a player and stakeholder on the global scene instead of often getting caught up in power games among other international players.

The conference has witnessed over 3,000 participants, 600 panellists and 140 sessions. Participants from across the globe include private and public sectors who exchanged ideas on innovative solutions to global challenges.

The panel included Jane Harman, Director, President and CEO of the Wilson Center; Micheal Pillsbury Director of Center on Chinese Strategy Hudson Institute and former UK Minister Lord Peter Mandelson, as reported by The New Times.

According to Rwanda's Head of State, Paul Kagame, Africa needs to get its act together to get to a position where it is a player on the global stage as opposed to being caught up in power games among international actors. "Africa needs to get its act together and be a place that can raise its stakes higher than where it is. Do as much as possible to be one of the players on the global scene instead of being caught up in power games we see across the world," Kagame added.

"Africa, my own country, look to the West as partners of choice, or investors of choice in Africa. If the West was doing investments that are required in Africa the way they should be, then Africa will stop being caught in this trap or competition," the 61-year old leader cited.

Kagame said that growing concerns that China was burdening Africa with debt were unfounded. "Africa has not had debt from China only. Debt forgiveness was there because there was debt. The question is what Africa has been doing with this debt… Saying we are worried Africa will be trapped in debt with China, sounds like concern for Africa by outsiders rather than Africa being concerned for its own well-being," he added, The New Times noted.

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