Belgium Killed Rwanda, Killed Rwandans – President Kagame Warns Against Foreign Meddling

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda stated that Belgium killed Rwanda, killed Rwandans, and later returned to continue the killings. He urged Rwandans to safeguard their country’s sovereignty and not to accept being struck on one cheek and then offer the other. He made these remarks during a discussion with residents of Kigali City on March 16, 2025.

President Kagame emphasized that Rwanda is determined to build and protect its sovereignty and that no country should dictate what Rwanda should do. He stated that Rwanda is prepared to confront those who seek to endanger it.

He said:

“We should not be Belgians. We want to live as Rwandans… Belgium killed Rwanda, killed Rwandans; this history is just over 30 years old. Then they come back, and the survivors are killed again. We have warned them before, and we will warn them again today.”

Rwanda Will Continue to Make Independent Decisions

The Head of State reiterated that Rwanda will continue to make the right decisions regardless of letters or sanctions imposed by its former colonizers. He urged Rwandans to strive for independence instead of relying on other countries and to focus on building their own nation and strengthening unity.

He Urged Rwandans Not to Offer the Other Cheek

Referring to biblical teachings from Matthew 5:39, which states:

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

President Kagame said that as an individual, he would never allow someone to slap him on one cheek and then offer the other. He called on all Rwandans to adopt a similar mindset.

He said:

“I have no issue with those teachings, but when they slap you on one cheek, are you supposed to turn the other? That is not something I adhere to. Forgive me, but that is not something I ask anyone to do either.”

He made it clear that anyone who slaps him once should not expect a second chance.

“If someone slaps me on one cheek, and they are lucky, they might survive. That is my belief. If you hit me here [on the cheek], I will hit you back wherever possible. In these situations, we are not playing games or entertaining naive thinking.”

Rwandans Must Continue to Build Their Nation

He stressed that Rwandans must continue on the path of building their country.

“The most important thing is to continue on the path we are on—building our nation, strengthening our unity, our power, and living well with others. Whether they are our neighbors or others from afar, we wish to live peacefully with them, but they must give us the peace we desire and need, just as we would do for them in a fair and reasonable manner.”

He pointed out that Rwanda was once in a terrible situation, and many are unhappy to see it rise again. However, he insisted that Rwandans must remain strong.

“Rwanda was in a place where this country was not expected to exist again. Some were surprised or even upset to see us rise again. But for us to go back to where we came from—only someone who wasn’t there would think of that. No one would willingly go back. That is why we must do everything possible to ensure we never return to that place.”

Rwanda Will Not Be Kept in a State of Dependency

He highlighted that Rwanda’s history is complicated and that even so-called friends or partners sometimes extend one hand in support while using the other to take away.

“Our history is difficult in such a way that those you call friends, or some you consider partners, give you one hand while taking away with the other. The reason is to keep you in that cycle—not dead, not healed, but in a state where they have you under control. They keep you unhealed, not dead, and if you happen to die, it does not bother them.”

Sustaining Development Momentum

President Kagame urged citizens to continue building and accelerating social welfare and economic development.

He also criticized leaders who fail to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, stating that if they changed their mindset, it would help the country reduce the gaps created by those who wish to lead it astray.

The Head of State reaffirmed that Rwandans are in a battle that requires unity and assured them that nothing bad would happen to them again.

“We are in a battle that we must fight together. But I always tell people that nothing is impossible for us. If we did not perish in the past, how could we perish now? There is nothing worse that can happen to us now compared to what we have already endured. That is why you should have no fear at all.”

He reassured that Rwanda is ready to continue confronting those who insult and defame it, as well as any forces that try to hinder the country’s development.

HD