Bottom Line
- Rwanda, once known primarily for the horrors of the 1994 genocide, has become a model for post-war reconstruction and rapid economic development, gaining significant soft power influence in Africa in recent years.
- Despite Rwanda’s notable progress, President Paul Kagame’s authoritarian model of governance marked by manipulated elections and human rights abuses presents challenges for US foreign policy.
- The US must be thoughtful about its approach to Rwanda, potentially through conditioning aid on human rights benchmarks, leveraging multilateral forums to encourage good governance, and preparing for a post-Kagame Rwanda through supporting civil society and fostering democratic values among the youth.
Rwanda—the small, landlocked country in East Africa known colloquially as the “
land of a thousand hills”—has arguably gained outsized influence in Africa in recent years. Previously known most prominently for the horrors enacted against ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus during the
1994 genocide, Rwanda has successfully charted a new path of unification, economic growth, and stability under long-time president Paul Kagame. On a visit to Kigali in 2022,
Secretary Antony Blinken characterized the transformation of Rwanda as “rising from the ashes of genocide to become a global destination for innovation, for investment, for tourism.” The Rwandese have overcome colonial rule, social revolution, coups, civil war, and genocide throughout the country’s difficult history. Today it stands as a model for post-war reconstruction and rapid economic development. As Rwanda steadily increases its soft power and global influence, the US must be strategic in navigating the bilateral relationship. Despite the remarkable progress, President Kagame’s administration has been marred by human rights abuses and authoritarian tendencies. A balanced, thoughtful approach to engagement with an increasingly powerful Rwanda will ensure that the US maintains positive relations with the East African leader while also not neglecting its own values of democracy, civil liberties, and good governance.
Rwandan Soft Power on the Rise – What it is, and Why it Matters
According to the
Global Soft Power Index, a numeric measure of soft power based on expert research, Rwanda ranks 104 out of 193 countries, only eclipsed by eight sub-Saharan African nations—South Africa (43); Nigeria (79); Ghana (85); Tanzania (93); Senegal (94); Kenya (95); Mauritius (97); and Madagascar (103). The index assesses individual states’ levels of familiarity, reputation, and influence, as well as performance in key areas such as business and trade, governance, international relations, culture and heritage, and media. This ranking indicates that Rwanda enjoys positive international image and influence, and at higher levels than many of its regional African neighbors.
A concept originally attributed to American political scientist Joseph Nye,
soft power refers to the ability to shape preferences of others in a non-coercive way, typically by way of desirable attributes relating to arts and entertainment, sports, political values, diplomacy, technology and innovation, or economic progress. It differs from hard power which is mostly wielded by military or economic force.
Brand Finance—author of the Soft Power Index—defines the concept as “a nation’s ability to influence the preferences and behaviors of various actors in the international arena (states, corporations, communities, publics etc.) through attraction or persuasion rather than coercion.”
The concept has uses that extend beyond academic spheres. In the international relations environment,
countries with full soft power arsenals (e.g. the United States) are able to more easily build alliances, attract external investment, shape global norms, boost exports, and engage in cultural diplomacy. For developing nations, this can contribute to much-needed economic opportunities, educational and technological exchange, and increased aid and development assistance. In other words, soft power matters.
In the case of Rwanda, many recent high-profile events point to the nation’s enhanced influence. In May 2024, the
Africa CEO Forum took place in the capital city. Approximately 2,000 CEOS, heads of state, and business leaders gathered in Kigali to generate ideas and collaborate on the topic of “At the table or on the menu? A critical moment to shape a new future for Africa,” the year’s programmatic theme. This esteemed event—deemed the “
Davos of Africa”—being held in Rwanda highlights the small nation’s capacity for hosting prestigious gatherings as well as its growing political and developmental stature.
Similarly, in June 2022 Rwanda held the
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting for the first time in its history. Political leadership from 54 Commonwealth nations assembled in Kigali, devising solutions to issues in areas such as public health, the environment, and business and economics.
