Rwanda Turns Off

Yet the tide may now be turning. This year, Human Rights Watch denounced the country for executing 20 detainees who were awaiting trial, and the U.S. State Department criticized Rwanda's human-rights record in a report last March.

That could cause real problems, for Rwanda still desperately needs outside help. True, its economy has grown at an impressive clip, but not fast enough to keep pace with its burgeoning population. Much of the wealth that has been generated has been limited to the new, largely Tutsi and politically connected elite in Kigali; few ordinary Rwandans have benefited. Sixty percent of the population still lives below the poverty line, and the country remains tiny, landlocked and devoid of natural resources.

Yet with legislative elections coming up next year, Kagame seems unlikely to relax his grip any time soon. That's unfortunate for everyone, including him, since it will ensure that his Tutsi government remains out of touch with the Hutu majority, aggravating the very ethnic tensions that no one is allowed to talk about. If outside donors keep giving, it will set a terrible precedent both for Rwanda and the continent at large. If they stop, the country could face collapse. As Kagame said in March, "In today's world, success … requires access to information and [the] ability to use it effectively." He should know; after all, news, communication—and the future of Rwanda—remain tightly in his grasp.

With Scott Johnson in Kigali

With Scott Johnson in Kigali

© 2007