Rwandan dissidents peddle lies to survive- Kagame

KIGALI, Rwanda

Most Rwandan detractors may have to propagate a barrage of lies to hoodwink their hosts that indeed they are fighting for democracy, freedom and other rights allegedly lacking back home.

President Paul Kagame last weekend took a swipe at the rank and profile of those Rwandans abroad that have endlessly attacked his government. 

"Those amongst us who were against our good politics, left the country. There is not one person among them who is better off where they are than when they were here. There is no one who went on to live a better life,” The President said.

According to the President, the dissidents are not necessarily living a better life as they tend to portray themselves.

"To survive, they had to come up with lies. They pretend to be fighting for ideals like freedom, democracy as if these can only be assigned by the countries where they have sought refuge,” President Kagame noted.

He observed that in Rwanda, “their plan has failed. What those countries helped them to do is to sing to the same tune as them, insulting us. But who has been killed by insults? What kills is the lies and the hunger they now live with.”

According to Kagame, the dissidents, “have been helped to spread lies and try to define us by them. But what has stopped it from working is you, the Rwandans. Rwandans who know the truth, who know where they come from, where they are and where they want to go.”

“Rwandans are far ahead of those petty insults and have chosen to move forward with their business of transforming their country. Insults and lies meant to tarnish our image cannot delay us from reaching our goals,” the President said.

He made the remarks while in Musanze district where he had gone to preside over a the graduation of 47 students from the RDF and the Rwanda National Police graduating at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College. 

The President also met with  over 300 opinion leaders from Rubavu and Musanze districts, mayors from Northern and Western Provinces, and businesspeople from Musanze and Rubavu operating in Kigali and other districts.