Since the armed rebel group, which supported the troops in Rwandam, launched a large offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo, professional cyclists raced on lush ore hills, John Legend made a sold -out concert in the capital, Kigali and entrepreneurs gathered at the Conference Center for Financial Technology.
The role of Rwanda in the war led by the rebel group M23 pulled criticism from the United States, China and the United Nations. But so far, strong words have done a little to blame the status of the country as a top destination for investors, tourists, athletes and celebrities.
In his first weeks in power, President Trump completed almost all the US aid, cut off development programs around the world and leaving the United States with a less negotiating tool when responding to conflicts. Now, given that Mr. Trump attended other crises and reduced state consumption, experts say that Rwanda is betting on his soft power and reputation of a security partner and an investment center in Africa to reduce the feedback in the offensive.
“Rwanda seems to have calculated that at this point the pressure will not be coordinated and that she can solve the storm,” said Muti Mutiga, director of Africa in the international crisis group.
“The United States also claim that it can expand its territory,” Mr. Mutiga added, referring to Mr. Trump’s claims to make the United States “Get” Greenland. “This is a time of strong people, in which if you think you can claim yourself from a military perspective, it will be difficult to withdraw.”
Rwanda is often advertised as one of the biggest recent stories of success in Africa. Ravaged by a genocide that killed almost six in 1994, since then he appeared as the highest investment Location in Africa.
The country has spent the last decade diversifying its trade relations to reduce its addiction to the United States and other Western partners. She bought military unmanned aircraft from Turkey, and the Turkish company built Rwanda a top Congress center. Singapore helped redesign capital. He joins with Qatar to turn the future international airport into a trip to Africa.
Despite participating in the war in Eastern Congo, which has killed thousands in the last few months, Rwanda has positioned itself as a reliable security partner in Africa, and has currently contributed to the second highest number of peacekeeping forces to the United Nations. His soldiers help protect the French gas project of $ 20 billion in Mozambique and replaced French troops that fought with rebels in the Central African Republic.
Paul Kagama, President Rwanda for 25 years, worked with the NBA and the International Basketball Federation, which created the basketball of the African league to maintain its annual playoffs in Kigali, gathering some of the best teams on the continent. The best European football teams like Arsenal, Bayern from Munich and Paris St.-Germain have sponsorship agreements with a visit to Rwanda, a national travel agency.
On a tour of Rwanda last month, cycling teams from the United Arab Emirates, France, South Africa, Israel and elsewhere passed through Kigali and the green tropical farms and forests of the hilly landscape villages of Rwanda. The young urbanists shot selfies and cheered as they watched local farmers and children in school uniforms.
The route also took cyclists near the border with the Congo, only mile away from gom And noisy, where thousands died How M23 moved to capture two cities earlier this year. Rwanda also has an aspiration to organize the Grand Prix Formula One race and September will host the World Cycling Championship – the first African country to do so.
Kigali’s image of pure and neat city helped strengthen tourism-ups, boiling out trips of $ 1500 a day to see the mountain gorillas in stunning national parks-which country was bringing $ 620 million in 2023, he states, he states Rwanda Development Committee. But this image is increasingly agreed with a current war in Eastern Congo, critics say and sanctions are gathering.
Germany and Britain have frozen some of the help of Rwanda, although other European countries have been divided into an invasion. The Canadian government has suspended some export activities. The United States are imposed sanctions On the Government Minister in Rwanda and spokesman M23.
S&P Global Ratings analysts warned that the conflict could harm the consumption and tourism of Rwanda. After the international donors withdrew the support of Rwanda after the 2012 offensive, the growth of the country fell below 5 percent, which is a drop of 8.6 percent a year earlier.
Grants and infrastructure projects make up more than 7 percent of Rwanda’s economy, about $ 1 billion, according to S&P Global Rattings. Before Trump’s administration dismantled the US International Development Agency, Rwanda received about $ 650 million in the United States in the US in the last five years and more than $ 1.7 billion in the last decade.
Ruandan troops have been present in Eastern Congo for years, but the last offensive was the biggest threat to Congo in decades.
Mr. Kagama denied the support of the M23 and described the conflict near the border as a threat to national security for his country. He accused the Congonic authorities of providing a refuge with militia who wanted to attack Rwanda – including hundreds of people who claims they were involved in the Rwande genocide.
Government officials did not respond to the Rwande officials. Tite Batagazi, a political analyst based in Kigali, who supports Mr. Kagama’s government, said “Congo has a domestic problem, but his leaders prefer to focus on the so -called Rwanda aggression.”
As Congo fails to mount a contrafensive, he tried to hit Rwanda in other ways. His Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, invited NBA and football teams to end their sponsorship sponsors with Rwanda.
“When you wear a PSG jersey, Arsenal or Bayern from Munich, you are very close to this crisis,” Mrs. Wagner said in an interview. “Sure fans, club owners, players on the field do not stand for the type of violence and human suffering we see in Eastern Congo.”
John Legend performed in Kigali last month despite boycott calls. Later, the BBC said, “I do not believe that we should punish the people of Rwanda and punish the people of other countries when we disagree with their leaders.”
No sports organization publicly responded to the calls for a boycott. Arsenal, one of Mr. Kagama’s favorite teams, did not respond to Mrs. Wagner’s request when she was in London in February, she said.
PSG is owned by Qatar, a key ally by Rwanda: Qatar Airways and Rwanda close in partnership with a national airplane, Rwandair and investing in a new international airport outside Kigali.
At a conference on Kigali financial technology last month, entrepreneurs and executives have set up their latest mobile money and large plans for financial reforms in Africa.
In Congoon territors under control of the M23, however, the locals remained away due to the lack of money and the closure of the banks.
