Kagame urges Africa to ditch aid dependence after US cuts, calls for self-reliance
Kagame emphasised that partnerships, whether between African countries or with international partners, should be based on mutual benefit, not on one side relying on the other.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has urged African countries to stop depending on foreign aid and instead focus on building their own capacities, following recent aid cuts by the United States government spearheaded by President Donald Trump.
Kagame made the call during the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on Tuesday, noting that the aid cuts were a wake-up call for Africa to take charge of its future.
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The funding cuts have disrupted critical health services across Africa, including HIV/AIDS treatment programmes, leaving millions without access to life-saving medications.
In Kenya, for instance, the funding cuts have left an annual deficit of Sh30.9 billion in the country's health sector. The Ministry of Health has warned that the most impacted areas will be health products and technologies for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
"Whatever Trump has decided, or whatever anybody else will decide in the near future, there is a history to how we've been going about things for decades as Africa," Kagame said.
He added that Africa has spoken about its potential for a long time, but it is now time to transform those discussions into real, measurable results.
"Trump's recent aid cuts are a reminder for Africa to move beyond discussions of its potential and start realising true capabilities through tangible action, regardless of external events."
Further, Kagame stressed that Africa possesses the resources, knowledge and institutions to drive its own development agenda and should use them to build more resilient and self-sufficient programs.
"The continent must take responsibility for its future — leveraging its resources, knowledge, and institutions to drive progress," he said.
The Rwandan President also emphasised that partnerships, whether between African countries or with international partners, should be based on mutual benefit, not on one side relying on the other.
"Cooperation within Africa and with global partners should be based on mutual benefit, not dependency. The continent must take initiative to build its own self-reliance and resilience," he said.
"Africa has all the means to achieve progress."
The annual Africa CEO Forum brings together leaders from the African private sector for discussions focused on how the industry can boost Africa's development agenda.
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