Tweeting with Paul Kagame
Understandably the last few weeks have seen a surge in debate around the influence of the internet and social media on the popular protests in Tunisia and Egypt. Here in Uganda – when wondering if a similar situation could arise after the Presidential elections on February 18 – people often mention the growing proportion of the population that is online every day.
However, political leaders in Africa are also using the internet to communicate directly with their people and interested observers. One such leader is President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who is one of very few Heads of State to operate their own Twitter account. Seeing him online last week I decided to contact him. And amid persistent speculation that he would seek to amend the Rwandan constitution to stand for a third term in office in 2017, I asked what plans he had for a successor?
To my surprise he responded immediately over three tweets:
@josephpowell. It s alwz going to be a complicated questn…while I can stand for what I say n do- it s hard to do that for smbody else..
@josephpowell but I want n i kno others want to see things continue in good direction..in Rw. So it s in my interest n duty to work with..
@josephpowell ..with others to manage well that succession process…and we will!
So a clear commitment from one of Africa’s most prominent leaders that he will step down in 2017 and hand over to a successor – a move that would surely cement his legacy in re-building Rwanda from the point of destruction to arguably one of the continent’s better functioning states. And all of this over Twitter. A sign, perhaps, that the increasingly diverse range of communications tools will not just be used for coordinating protest in Africa.
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08/02/2011 at 9:08 am
For sure Jo Powell, Rwnada’s Paul is one of the most serious visionaries/revolutionaries the content has and he will keep his words! If President Kagame steps for a successor and most likely, E.A.C will have him stand for the first political confederation job as the first president of East Africa and I an Ugandan will campaign for him will be there to cast my vote.
He is more serious and EA can go oceans with Kagame.
10/02/2011 at 6:07 pm
While it is encouraging to have someone give attention to Rwanda, you NEED to research more on Rwanda before describing Gen. Kagame as “one of Africa’s most prominent leaders”. I doubt that simply operating a twitter account would qualify him for such a tittle. Furthermore, this is a man accused of very serious if heinous crimes. Think about the genocide in DRC, the killings of thousands of Hutu by the RPF during the genocide, arbitrary arrests and disappearance of thousands, constant harassment of the press and the list is endless. Your post is lacking in both serious analysis and content.
12/02/2011 at 9:50 am
Cannot comment on the political detail, but, as part of a refugee supporting organisation in the UK I am delighted to see the relatively peaceful political change in Egypt (so far) brought about not by violence-upon-violence but by Egyptian people’s voices seeking change and by the internet. I imagine, however, that it was a very brave thing to do and worry about other countries.
14/02/2011 at 11:51 am
Our President in his State of the Nation Address last week referred specifically to South Africans that had facebooked him with comments, suggestions and plea’s. It was encouraging for me as a South African to see that he really took his people’s comments to consideration, so much so that he even mentioned them by name in his address. Facebook, twitter, myspace etc. is the medium of communication for us as normal citizens to get our voice heard.
02/03/2011 at 1:26 am
I have my doubts that it’s Kagame himself tweeting. The text shorthand being used is quite suspect; words that he uses tells me that it’s a youthful person or impersonator – ‘alwz’ ‘yeeaa’ ‘plz’. You be the judge.
09/03/2011 at 10:29 am
hahaha@Ka, i can assure you it is him. I know from reliable sources.