The meeting in Kigali
Kigali Convention Center
On April 20, 2018, Kigali was announced as the next host of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) which was meant to be held in 2020. This was a historical moment, not only for Rwanda, but also to the bloc.
The then youngest member state, a non-British colony and historically a francophonie country, was breaking the glass ceiling to be at the helm of the bloc.
One might be surprised at how, with all the setbacks, Rwanda got to achieve this. But a sure thing is, no shadow of doubt would be cast on her capability to handle such a big task so eloquently and excellently.
The country has a strong track record of hosting big international events successfully and the long list of the events includes the 26th World Economic Forum, and the 27th African Union Summit among others.
As the preparations to host CHOGM were underway in 2020, Covid-19 emerged and forced the postponement of the meeting for two years. But on June 20, 2022, the meeting was happening at last and there was nothing going to stop Rwanda from showing the world that it’s truly a global destination for international meetings, conferences and exhibitions.
Weeks before the meeting kicked-off, things in Kigali were changing rapidly. From the construction and renovation of roads to putting final touches to the conference preparations and logistical arrangements, Kigali was taking on a new image.
The teams involved in the preparations were working days and nights, and every single morning, the city would be different from how it was the previous night.
However, as Rwanda was reserving no energy to ensure that CHOGM goes on successfully, so did detractors who were falsifying allegations against the country to tarnish its image and discourage the attendees from flying in.
Following the resurgence of M23, the Democratic Republic of Rwanda (DRC) has been accusing Rwanda of backing these militias fighting in the eastern part of DRC. Rwanda has for so long been refuting these claims but all in vain. The tensions between the two countries are rising and in the DRC, the government and its forces (FARDC) have been inciting the population to rally against Rwanda and her president.
Verbal and physical attacks targeting Rwandophones in the DRC have been intense, and for several times, the FRDC shelled on Rwanda’s territory with intent to destabilize the country’s security.
But, regardless of the weight these allegations might have, nothing was to deter Rwanda from putting in extra efforts to exceedingly meet the expectations of CHOGM attendees and ensure their maximum safety.
The meeting brought together over 4,000 people including Commonwealth heads of state and their representatives, and as they started jetting in, the amazement of the greenery of the city was always hard to hide. Many shared the joy of being in Rwanda in their speeches and social media, and praised the Rwandan people for their generous reception.
In his remarks during the opening ceremony, Charles, The Prince of Wales, revealed he was “delighted” to be in Rwanda and thanked her for “the most impressive preparations” towards the success of the meeting.
To Boris Johnson, the premier of the U.K and the outgoing chair of the Commonwealth, being in Rwanda was “an extraordinary and moving moment” as he said during a press conference.
