Leadership in President Paul Kagame

For decades, African nations have been unstable entities characterized by decolonization, civil wars and genocide. One of the most prominent examples of the above since 1950 is Rwanda, a small country in central Africa. Surely it takes a remarkable leader to take charge of such a disheveled territory and establish its first successful republic. Paul Kagame, the current President of Rwanda, was able to do just that. His experiences during his youth and military career allowed him to become an effective and successful leader in many enterprises in the social, military and political realm.

Paul Kagame was born in 1957 as a Tutsi member of the Rwandan aristocracy (Gourevitch and Kagame 162). Although decolonization from Belgium had started nearly ten years prior, Rwanda still suffered from great social divide. The Belgian authorities gave their loyalty to the higher-class Tutsi, while the majority Hutu class suffered as peasants. Journalist Philip Gourevitch’s interview confirms that Kagame was only two years old when the initial Hutu revolution took place in 1959 (164). The Hutu class overthrew the minority Tutsi, and like countless others, Paul Kagame’s family was exiled to foreign lands (164). His family settled in Uganda.

Kagame would forever be scared as a refugee in Uganda. His refugee status posed many obstacles for advancement and achievement in Ugandan society. Kagame said of the matter, “Professional advancement was restricted for Rwandans in Uganda…he cannot go beyond a certain point, because he is Rwandan” (Waugh 14). Kagame’s road to presidency was uphill, twisty and ridden with tolls.

Kagame was able to develop his leadership skills early and often. In secondary school, he was able to form a relationship with elder classmate Yoweri Musevini, who is now the president of Uganda. Musevini served as a mentor for Kagame in his youth. Leadership expert Gary Yukl identifies several potential benefits of being guided under a mentor (77). The...