Rwandan President Paul Kagame has urged for the redefinition of Africa–Europe relations towards genuine equality, mutual respect, and shared prosperity. Speaking at the second edition of the European Union’s Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Kagame underscored that sustainable cooperation between the two continents must transcend traditional aid-driven models and be grounded in co-creation, reciprocity, and shared accountability.
Kagame noted that while Africa and Europe remain bound by history and geography, their partnership must now evolve to reflect contemporary realities of global interdependence. “Cooperation only works when it is built on the right foundation,” he stated, adding that the notion of partnership has too often been distorted—where one side dictates and the other complies. He stressed that Africa’s experience demonstrates that dependency-oriented approaches have failed to deliver lasting transformation.
In his remarks, Kagame emphasised that a genuine partnership “does not create dependency; it creates value.” This perspective resonates with a growing continental sentiment that Africa’s development trajectory must be defined by agency rather than aid, and by production rather than consumption.
As global political and economic dynamics continue to shift, Kagame asserted that the world’s interconnectedness demands more balanced and transparent relationships. “The challenge is to make this integration equitable so that the opportunities and the benefits of growth flow both ways,” he said.
Observers at the Global Gateway Forum, which convened leaders from Africa and Europe alongside private sector and development partners, interpreted Kagame’s comments as a measured critique of the asymmetrical power structures that have historically characterised relations between the two continents.
Kagame outlined Africa’s strategic priorities—infrastructure development, industrialisation, and technological innovation—as key levers for strengthening the continent’s competitiveness in global trade. These priorities align closely with Africa’s Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for inclusive and sustainable growth, as well as initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For Europe, Kagame argued, the potential for partnership lies not merely in market access but in shared transformation. Africa, he noted, offers a growing youthful population, an expanding consumer base, and essential resources for the green and digital transitions that underpin Europe’s own strategic ambitions. “Our interests are aligned, and this is the right time to turn them into sustained, mutual growth. This is precisely what the Global Gateway can make possible if we remain consistent and pragmatic,” Kagame added.
The Global Gateway, launched by the European Union in 2021, aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in public and private investment globally, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, and digital connectivity. However, African policymakers and scholars have called for clearer frameworks that ensure African ownership, transparent governance, and the equitable distribution of benefits across local economies.
Kagame’s intervention thus reaffirms a pan-African call for structural fairness in global partnerships. His remarks reflect a broader shift in African diplomatic discourse—from dependency narratives towards those centred on dignity, equity, and shared value creation. In this vision, Africa is neither a passive recipient nor a peripheral actor, but a co-architect of the global future.
As continental leaders continue to engage with partners through frameworks such as the Global Gateway, the success of such initiatives will depend on the extent to which they empower Africa’s productive capacities, strengthen intra-African cooperation, and foster relationships that respect sovereignty and self-determination.
The Kigali administration’s position underscores a deeper ideological evolution taking root across the continent—one that envisions Africa as a confident, collaborative partner capable of shaping its development destiny on equal footing with others.
