The Secretary-General of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), Christophe Bazivamo, has urged Rwandans living in Europe, particularly young people, to use their knowledge and experience to contribute to Rwanda’s development and help the country achieve its ambition of becoming a high-income nation by 2050.
He made the call on October 30, 2026, during an RPF-Inkotanyi members’ retreat held in Warsaw, Poland, which brought together young members of the party.
Bazivamo said achieving Vision 2050, which aims to eradicate poverty, requires every Rwandan to play a role in national development.
He noted that the proportion of the population living below the poverty line had fallen from 78% in 1994 to 27.8%, but stressed that more efforts were needed to reach the country’s target.
He said Rwanda’s development plans require annual economic growth of more than 10%, compared with the current rate of approximately 7%. He warned that failure to accelerate growth could delay the achievement of the 2050 targets until 2075.
“Our vision is to have no poor people by 2050. We have moved from 78% to 27%, and Vision 2050 targets zero poverty. We believe this is achievable,” he said.
He urged young people not to wait until the future to start contributing to national development, noting that by 2050 many of them would be in leadership positions and would have to deal with the consequences of failing to achieve the country’s development goals.
Opportunities for Rwandans living abroad
Bazivamo highlighted opportunities in education, healthcare, mining and agro-processing, urging Rwandans with expertise in these sectors to use their skills to support the country’s development.
He said Rwanda was positioning itself as a regional hub for education and healthcare, attracting people from different countries seeking academic and medical services, although more improvements were still needed.
He also pointed to the ongoing construction of Bugesera International Airport and plans to host a Formula 1 race in 2030 as opportunities that should inspire young people to identify potential businesses and services that could benefit from these developments.
Citing economic indicators, Bazivamo said Rwanda’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita had reached $1,156, while more than 80% of Rwandans were covered by community-based health insurance.
He explained that expanding health insurance coverage had improved access to healthcare, helping people lead healthier lives and enabling them to work and increase productivity.
During a discussion held under the theme “From Legacy to Responsibility”, young participants explored how they could make use of opportunities in their countries of residence and channel their knowledge and experience towards Rwanda’s development.
Aristide Shema said taking responsibility did not necessarily mean holding a leadership position. He explained that anyone, regardless of where they live or what they do, has a responsibility to pursue goals that go beyond personal interests and serve the wider community.
Young Rwandans abroad urged to understand and explain the country’s history
Bazivamo also urged Rwandans living abroad to follow developments in Rwanda and understand the country’s history so they can explain its progress and development ambitions to others, rather than relying on information from sources seeking to portray the country negatively.
He recalled Rwanda’s difficult history, including the effects of colonialism, divisions and the events that culminated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, stressing that understanding the country’s past is important for appreciating the progress made and the challenges that remain.
He emphasised that despite the achievements recorded, Rwanda must continue building its capacity, promoting national values, strengthening unity and embracing home-grown solutions.
Bazivamo concluded by reminding participants that the RPF-Inkotanyi does not work solely for its members but seeks to serve the interests of all Rwandans. He called on everyone to contribute to the country’s journey towards sustainable development.
