KIGALI – Rwanda President Paul Kagame has said his government will do all it takes to protect his country from what he described as enemies hiding behind democracy and freedom of speech with the main objective of destabilizing the nation.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of new army chiefs and ministers in Kigali on Thursday, November 14, 2019, Mr Kagame said they have shed blood to protect the country and are not ready to tolerate those seeking to cause anarchy.
“They hide behind politics, democracy, freedom, that we actually want, it is our responsibility to ensure that there is democracy, there is peace, there is freedom, there is everything in our country. Primarily we are the ones responsible first and foremost, we, me and you,” he said.
“You cannot be here benefitting from the peace and security that we have created, that we have paid for in blood over many years and then you do things behind our backs and cause us problems. We will put you where you belong, there is no question about it,” the President added.
Mr Kagame said is ready to raise the cost of protecting the country.
“Our security, we have taken it more or less for granted and that was right, that we could make sure that the country was secure to the point that we take it for granted. We will continue to take it for granted, by any means. Here I mean that we are going to raise the cost on the part of anybody who wants to destabilize our security,” he said.
“The cost is going to be very high, whether it’s the means that we are going to put into that to make sure that we have everything it takes to ensure the security and stability of our country and our people, and our development. It’s also the cost mainly that those people who want to destabilize our country are going to incur, it’s going to be a very high cost on their part, absolutely. And I mean it, and you know that I mean it,” Mr Kagame added.
Top military officials, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Jean Bosco Kazura, Gen Fred Ibingira, Chief of Staff, Reserve Force; Lt. Gen Jack Musemakweli, Inspector General of RDF; and Maj Gen Innocent Kabandana, the deputy Reserve Force Chief of Staff, all took oaths.
Cabinet ministers; Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya (Environment), Gen Patrick Nyamvumba (Internal Security), and Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju (Sports). Also sworn in are Edouard Bamporiki who was appointed State Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, as well as Ignatienne Nyirarukundo, the new Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs in the Ministry of Local Government, were also sworn in.
