The Great Kagame Interview

Kagame: I am here to attend the 8th Extraordinary Session of Economic Community of Central African States.

Karemberi: Rwanda has just rejoined the Economic Community of Central African States, is that right?

Kagame: Yes, we rejoined the Economic Community of Central African States in August 2016.

Karemberi: Mr President, I understand that you had left the Economic Community of Central African States in 2007? You decided to leave the organization because of overlapping and duplication of membership in several regional bodies?

Kagame: That is true. We wanted to better focus on our membership in the East African Community, in the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa, and in the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries.

Karemberi: Your Excellence, so why have reversed yourself? This means you are now in four African regional communities, namely, 1) East African Community, 2) the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa, 3) the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries, and 4) the Economic Community of Central African States. And they overlap.

Kagame: So what? I made the decision. And its final. I am the president of the republic.

Karemberi: Mr President, how functional are some of these regional communities? For example, when last did the Summit of Heads of States of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries meet in the last 20 years?

Kagame: Ask Joseph Kabila and Pierre Nkurunziza this question, not me. These two fellows are in a mess, while I am building the Singapore of Africa. Have you been to Kigali lately? It’s the best city in Africa, if not in the world.

Karemberi: Your Excellence, the two presidents would probably say you have been causing chaos in their countries at different times, and that is why the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries is dysfunctional.

Kagame: Get out of my face. This interview is over.