He made the remarks during his address to the nation as Rwanda commemorated the 32nd anniversary of Liberation Day (Kwibohora32).
President Kagame said Rwanda endured decades of exclusion, fear, and division before the liberation struggle, emphasizing that its primary objective was to restore the dignity and rights of all Rwandans.
“The goal of the liberation struggle was to give Rwandans back what had been taken from them—to live with dignity and value. However, those destructive ideologies have not completely disappeared. They still exist in different forms and remain visible across our region,” he said.
“We have seen too much, and we have suffered enough that we can never again treat such ideologies lightly.”
The President stressed that Rwanda’s progress has been built on security and good governance, noting that national security is fundamental to every aspect of development and is not pursued to gain approval from others.
“Without security, nothing else would be possible. That is why we remain vigilant and stand firm in what we believe. What happened in our country will never happen again, for one simple reason—we will not allow it,” he declared.
Addressing Rwanda’s younger generation, many of whom were born after the country’s darkest chapter, President Kagame urged them to recognize that the responsibility for safeguarding Rwanda’s future rests first and foremost with Rwandans themselves.
“There are those who support us, and there are others who may disagree with us or not fully understand what we seek to achieve. But one thing we know is that, in the end, anyone can turn their back on us if they choose. We have no other option. It is our responsibility to ensure that every Rwandan can live in peace and prosper in their own country,” he said.
President Kagame added that liberation is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing journey that must evolve with changing times. He said its true meaning should continue to be reflected in the country’s commitment to improving the lives of its citizens and protecting the gains that have been made over the past three decades.
Looking to the future, the President expressed confidence that Rwanda’s path remains promising, provided the country continues to strengthen national unity, reject division, and work together toward shared prosperity.
“What we have achieved over the past 32 years speaks for itself. Let us continue on the right path that we have chosen,” President Kagame concluded.
