President Kagame Rejects EU Human Rights Report Findings

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has rejected criticism by the European Union (EU) of the human rights record of his government. Speaking during the European Development Days in Brussels, Belgium, President Kagame has described claims in an EU 2018 human rights report that highlighted “serious violations of civil and political rights” in the country as ridiculous.

Instead the Rwandan president challenged Europe’s track record on the same subject, telling France24’s Catherine Nicholson, "Europe is violating people's rights, with this problem of people being bundled and sent back to sink in the Mediterranean and so many people being mistreated in your own country."

“You (Europe) really need to stop this superiority complex nonsense about human rights. You think you're the only ones who respect human rights, and all others it's about violating human rights. No, we have fought for human rights and freedoms of our people much better, and more than anyone including you people who keep talking about this nonsense," he added.

Rwanda continues to receive high levels of donor funding from the EU, including direct budget support. Between 2014 and 2020 the country will receive an estimated €460 million in EU assistance.