ASTANA, Kazakhstan – Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Thursday joined world leaders and global stakeholders at the official opening of the Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025, an annual platform focused on addressing today’s most urgent global challenges.
Held under the theme “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,” the forum convened participants from more than 70 countries in Kazakhstan’s capital to engage in high-level discussions on climate change, international security, economic resilience, energy transition, and geopolitical cooperation.
Originally established as the Astana Economic Forum, the AIF has evolved into a wider platform for inclusive dialogue, with a growing reputation as a venue for promoting multilateralism amid increasing global polarization.
President Kagame’s participation underscores Rwanda’s growing international presence and its commitment to contributing to global problem-solving efforts.
In his remarks at the forum, President Kagame reflected on Rwanda’s post-genocide journey, drawing attention to lessons learned from the world’s inaction during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“When the genocide was taking place in our country, and the rest of the world looked the other way, it taught us a lesson,” Kagame said. “That’s when we began putting our pieces together—trying to build from within, bringing everyone to contribute, and creating that level of trust that gave us an opportunity to build institutions accountable to our people’s needs.”
Despite the international community’s silence during Rwanda’s darkest period, President Kagame emphasised that the country did not retreat from global cooperation.
“This did not stop us from cooperating with the rest of the world,” he added. “In fact, we received support from a number of friends and partners. But that support would not have had an impact if we had not been standing together ourselves and doing our part from within.”
On the sidelines of the forum, President Kagame held a bilateral meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan. The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, finance, education, technology, and diplomacy.
This year’s forum drew an impressive lineup of global figures, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the presidents of Albania, Croatia, and North Macedonia—demonstrating the event’s growing influence on international policy discourse.
President Kagame’s presence at AIF 2025 highlights Rwanda’s proactive diplomacy and its belief in global collaboration as a driver of sustainable development. It also reaffirms the country’s role as a thought leader in Africa and an active participant on the international stage.
The forum continues Friday with a series of panel discussions, high-level dialogues, and networking sessions aimed at crafting innovative, cooperative solutions for a better-connected and more resilient world.
