President Paul Kagame: A Role Model for His African Peers and Africa’s Point of Contact with the International Community?

Rwandan President Paul Kagame received Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni at Village Urugwiro in Kigali on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, for a two-day official visit.

This marks Romuald Wadagni’s first official visit to Rwanda since he took office as President of Benin in May 2026.

The visit follows on from the strong bilateral ties that have been forged between the two countries in recent years, notably through a series of visits between Paul Kagame and former Beninese President Patrice Talon.

It is worth noting that Rwandan President Paul Kagame is regarded as a prominent figure and a key interlocutor for the international community on African affairs.

Having succeeded in rebuilding his country from the ashes following the genocide against the Tutsi, which could have engulfed Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has turned Rwanda into a model and a reference point in the fields of good governance, entrepreneurship, economic diplomacy, environmental protection and security.

It is therefore hardly surprising to see African heads of state travelling to Kigali to draw inspiration from the Rwandan model.

Frequently sought out and invited to major international forums to give voice to Africa on a wide range of issues, President Paul Kagame benefits from the international standing of a country recognised for the stability of its democratic institutions, as well as its economic and security resilience.