Rwandan President Paul Kagame called on African nations to move beyond rhetoric and start implementing commitments on agriculture and food security, saying the continent has the resources to solve its own challenges without depending on outside help.
Speaking at the African Forum on Agriculture and Food in Dakar, Kagame said Africa must break the cycle of making promises without follow-through.
“How can we ensure that what we do does not end in words alone?” he asked. “Yes, we still have weaknesses, and we must work hard to achieve what we want. We must truly begin implementing what we say—moving from words to action—so that we can see and measure results.”
Kagame stressed that responsibility lies first with governments, but also with individuals, especially young people, who he said should match their demands with effort.
“This is our collective responsibility,” he said. “We must have strong cooperation and engage in real conversations about what we commit to do. We must stop being people who only keep asking and depending on others. We should not always wait for others when we already have everything, and when our people know what to do.”
The President emphasized that Africa has both the natural resources and the human capacity to drive agricultural transformation, but needs to prioritize implementation.
“For Africans to fully benefit from their land and other natural resources, they must put into action the commitments made at different meetings, including those on agriculture and food security,” Kagame said.
