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Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009
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Rwanda: joint struggle needed by India, Africa to get U.N. seat

Sandeep Dikshit

PHOTO: PTI/ VIJAY KUMAR JOSHI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with President of the Republic of Rwanda & Chairman of the East African Community Paul Kagame in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has called upon Africa and India to jointly carry out a struggle to gain membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“As the history of both suggests, nothing comes for free. There is an urgent need in the UNSC for fairness and justice and to provide a forum for the developing countries to air their grievances and resolve global problems,” Mr. Kagame told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.

The need for a struggle to gain UNSC membership was because there were “stumbling blocks” in the form of people who were used to “making decisions mainly in their interests.”

While stressing the need to challenge the status quo at multilateral bodies, Mr. Kagame hoped India and Africa would continue to build their capacities economically and politically. Also, both should strengthen their solidarity so that “in the end, their voice will be heard.” The Rwandan President found it “absurd” that with a combined population of two billion, India and Africa are not represented in the UNSC.

Asked what countries such as China and India — both untainted by a colonial and exploitative past — could do to forge a more mutually advantageous relationship with African countries, Mr. Kagame thought the solution was “simple.”

Both countries should bring to bear their successful processes on Africa.

“We also have the same aspirations. Not so long ago they were in the same category.” Be it in mining, petroleum or manufacturing, these should no longer be the preserve of “other” societies. Africa has to domesticate these processes because that “is how wealth is created.” With China and India having travelled the same path, Mr. Kagame was confident that they would help Africa stand on its feet.

Hope for Rwanda

Turning to Rwanda where 10 lakh died during the 1994 genocide, Mr. Kagame said people were now “glued” by the determination to get what they deserve. “There is hope and a future. We have seen much progress in the last 15 years.”

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