Kagame says ICC humiliates Africans, slams trial of Kenyan leaders

President Paul Kagame has told the United nations General Assembly (UNGA) that it should work with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to urge the International Criminal Court [ICC] to discontinue the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

President Kagame who was addressing the UNGA this September 25^th 2013 said that the international community must uphold equality of nations, support reconciliation in Kenya and respect the dignity of Africans arguing that the ICC biasness has besieged Africans and disrespected their dignity.

“Instead of promoting justice and peace, the ICC has undermined efforts at reconciliation and humiliated Africans. Nowhere have the ICC’s shortcomings been more evident than in trial of the Kenyan President and deputy President”

Kagame asserted that Kenyans were eager to heal wounds, reconcile and move on, saying that such interest was revealed when they elected their present leaders despite accusations upon them. He pointed out that the ICC injustice against Africans seems to hinder their efforts towards working out own issues.

Addressing the UNGA on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) President Kagame said “the post-2015 era can be defined by opportunity and optimism, prosperity and progress, dignity and hope”

He commented that the next chapter of development must create meaningful partnerships that impact positively on lives of all, stating that Rwandans are on course to meet all the MDG targets but clarified on the fact that for Rwandans; “the MDGs are a floor, not a ceiling”

President Kagame reminded the UNGA that Rwandans purpose to building a new nation is informed by the 1994 Genocide tragedy, a tragic past that gives the country a reason to firmly focus on the future as all Rwandans remain on course to meet all the MDG targets; adding that Access to knowledge, information and technology is leveling the economic playing field for developing countries.

Further, as Kagame talked of Rwandans determination towards bigger achievement, he said that they all are enthusiastic. “We remain tireless in the pursuit of progress, because we know all too well. The cost of failure Post-2015 can turn this new sense of possibility into a reality; to give people in developing nations increased opportunity.

On 25 September 2013, the President of the UN General Assembly hosted a special event on the MDG’s to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

In the outcome document adopted by Member States, world leaders renewed their commitment to meet the MDG’s targets and agreed to hold a high-level Summit in September 2015 to adopt a new set of Goals.

According to the adoption, the Goals will build on the foundation laid by the MDGs and also respond to new challenges. They will balance the three elements of sustainable development providing economic transformation and opportunity to lift people out of poverty, advancing social justice and protecting the environment.

Rwanda has advanced in putting the MDGs into enforcement, where Rwandans throughout the country meet to agree on key development priorities for their villages in many ways through local leadership in programs involving citizens directly.

Currently, Rwandans are involved in building own country in a monthly community work locally known as UMUGANDA, and are mostly invited in meetings at grassroots level where they would discuss on construction of new roads or repair old ones, build classrooms for their school children and other social development activities in cooperation with the government .