By Sylivanus M.Karemera,China Africa News
Kigali-Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has reaffirmed that young people across Africa have a legitimate right to demonstrate when their fundamental rights are denied, urging political leaders to understand and respond to the grievances driving youth-led protests. He delivered the message during the 17th Congress of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) held at the Intare Conference Centre in Kigali.
Addressing senior party cadres, Kagame reminded members of the founding principles of the RPF, including the fight against corruption, injustice and poor governance. He challenged party leaders to reflect on their responsibilities to citizens 38 years after the movement’s birth, warning against waiting for public pressure before acting on those obligations.
Beyond the party hall, Kagame’s remarks spoke directly to a wider continental moment. Across Africa, young people often identified as Generation Z have emerged as a visible force, demanding accountability, opportunity and justice from those in power. Rather than dismissing these demonstrations, Kagame urged leaders to examine what fuels them. When young people rise to demand their rights, he suggested, it is a sign that those rights have not yet been fully realised.
In a reflective tone, he asked his audience whether leaders should wait to be reminded by citizens of what they owe them, or whether they should take the initiative to fulfil their responsibilities. While noting the RPF’s long-standing commitment to building a strong and corruption-free society, Kagame acknowledged that persistent youth demands indicate unfinished work.
He made it clear that he understands and accepts youth activism, regardless of the form it takes, because it mirrors the struggles of his own generation. As he moved among party members, Kagame drew a direct parallel between today’s youth protests and the resistance against injustice that once defined the liberation movement he led. For him, young people standing up for their rights is neither surprising nor threatening; it is a natural and necessary expression of civic consciousness.
This perspective aligns with a message Kagame has consistently delivered to young people in Rwanda over the years. He has often described youth as the country’s greatest strength and its future, urging them to channel their energy, education and values into national development. At forums such as YouthConnekt, he has encouraged young Rwandans to demand respect for their rights, take pride in their identity and focus on building forward rather than carrying the emotional burdens of past generations.
Kagame has also linked youth empowerment to responsibility and character, reminding young people that ambition must be matched with accountability. He has urged them to think big, seize opportunities and play an active role in shaping the country’s future rather than waiting on others to define it for them.
Beyond rhetoric, Rwanda’s governance has increasingly reflected this emphasis. Young people have been deliberately integrated into leadership and decision-making spaces, from cabinet and parliament to local government and public institutions, reinforcing the idea that youth are not merely beneficiaries of policy but participants in shaping it.
Ultimately, Kagame’s message in Kigali resonates beyond party lines and national borders. It underscores a long-standing connection between youthful aspiration and societal progress, recognising that today’s generation of young Africans, in demanding dignity, justice and opportunity, is echoing a timeless human pursuit of a better future.
