Paul Kagame

===Domestic policy===
====Vision 2020 and Vision 2050====
{{main|Vision 2020 (Rwanda)}}
In the late 1990s, Kagame began actively planning methods to achieve national development. He launched a national consultation process{{sfn|MINECOFIN (I)}} and also sought the advice of experts from emerging nations including China, Singapore and [[Thailand]].{{sfn|Kinzer|2008|pp=226–227}} Following these consultations, and shortly after assuming the presidency, Kagame launched an ambitious programme of national development called [[Vision 2020 (Rwanda)|Vision 2020]].{{sfn|Kinzer|2008|pp=226–227}} The major purposes of the programme were to unite the Rwandan people and to transform Rwanda from a highly impoverished into a [[middle income country]].{{sfn|MINECOFIN (I)}} The programme consists of a list of goals which the government aimed to achieve before the year 2020.{{sfn|Kinzer|2008|pp=226–227}} These include reconstruction, infrastructure and transport improvements, good governance, improving agriculture production, private sector development, and health and education improvements.{{sfn|MINECOFIN (I)}}

In 2011, the [[Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (Rwanda)|Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)]] issued a report indicating the progress of the Vision 2020 goals.{{sfn|MINECOFIN (II)|2011|p=2}} The report examined the stated goals of the programme and rated each one with a status of "on-track", "on-watch" or "off-track". Of 44 goals, it found that {{percentage|66|100}} were on-track, {{percentage|11|100}} were on-watch, and {{percentage|22|100}} were off-track.{{sfn|MINECOFIN (II)|2011|p=2}} The major areas identified as off-track were population, poverty and the environment.{{sfn|MINECOFIN (II)|2011|p=2}} By 2012, MINECOFIN's review found that 26% of Vision 2020's original indicators had already been achieved.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Republic of Rwanda|date=2012|title=Vision 2020 (Revised 2012)|url=https://www.greengrowthknowledge.org/sites/default/files/downloads/policy-database/RWANDA%29%20Vision%202020%20%28Revised%202012%29.pdf|journal=Republic of Rwanda}}</ref> While also highlighting key areas for improvement, the review made several upward revisions, including revising the GDP per capita target from $900 to $1,240.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nimusima|first=Pereez|display-authors=etal|date=2018|title=An Evaluation of Rwanda's Vision 2020 Achievements|url=https://ju.se/download/18.243bd3a4161b08d5c5817099/1520578293273/EARP-EF%202018-17%20Nimusima.pdf|journal=East Africa Research Papers in Economics and Finance|volume=2018|issue=17 }}</ref> In the same year, an independent review of the strategy carried out by academics based in Belgium rated progress as "quite encouraging", mentioning development in the education and health sectors, as well as Kagame's fostering of a favourable business environment.{{sfn|Ansoms|Rostagno|2012}} The review also raised concerns about the policy of "maximum growth at any cost", suggesting that this was leading to a situation in which the rich prospered while the rural poor saw little benefit.{{sfn|Ansoms|Rostagno|2012}}

Upon completion of the programme in December 2020, Kagame announced [[Vision 2050 (Rwanda)|Vision 2050]], remarking that "Vision 2020 was about what we had to do in order to survive and regain our dignity. But Vision 2050 has to be about the future we choose, because we can, and because we deserve it."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)|first=Republic of Rwanda|date=December 2020|title=Vision 2050|url=https://www.minecofin.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/Minecofin/Publications/REPORTS/National_Development_Planning_and_Research/Vision_2050/English-Vision_2050_Abridged_version_WEB_Final.pdf|journal=Republic of Rwanda}}</ref> Vision 2050 focuses around the two main pillars of Economic Growth and Prosperity and High Quality of Life and Standards of Life for Rwandans.<ref name=":0" /> Vision 2050 is the programmatic articulation of Kagame's ambition for Rwanda to become an upper-middle income country by 2035, and a [[high-income country]] by 2050.

<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)|first=Republic of Rwanda|date=December 2020|title=Vision 2050|url=https://www.minecofin.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/Minecofin/Publications/REPORTS/National_Development_Planning_and_Research/Vision_2050/English-Vision_2050_Abridged_version_WEB_Final.pdf|journal=Republic of Rwanda}}</ref>

====Economy====
{{main|Economy of Rwanda}}
[[File:Kigali2018Cropped.jpg|thumb|Luxurious Kigali under Kagame]]
Rwanda's economy has grown rapidly under Kagame's presidency, with per-capita gross domestic product ([[purchasing power parity]]) estimated at [[Geary-Khamis dollar|$]]2,214 in 2020, compared with $631 in 2000.{{sfn|World Bank (V)|2020}} Annual growth between 2000 and 2020 averaged {{percentage|7.221714286|100}} per year.{{efn|Average of 8.371 (2000), 8.485 (2001), 13.192 (2002), 2.202 (2003), 7.448 (2004), 9.378 (2005), 9.227 (2006), 7.633 (2007), 11.161 (2008), 6.248 (2009), 7.335 (2010), 7.958 (2011), 8.642 (2012), 4.72 (2013), 6.167 (2014), 8.857 (2015), 5.971 (2016), 3.976 (2017), 8.579 (2018), 9.461 (2019), -3.355 (2020).{{sfn|World Bank (VI)|2020}}}} Kagame's economic policy is based on [[Economic liberalism|liberalising]] the economy, reducing [[red tape]] for businesses,{{sfn|Murdock|2010}} and transforming the country from an agricultural to a [[knowledge-based economy]].{{sfn|Kanyesigye|2012}} Kagame has stated that he believes Rwanda can emulate the [[Economy of Singapore|economic development of Singapore]] since 1960.{{sfn|Musoni|2013}} Kagame, as set out in the national Vision 2050 Policy, believes that Rwanda can become an upper-middle income country by 2035, and a high-income country by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vision 2020 – 2050 – Rwanda Playbook|url=http://hgs.rgb.rw/vision-2020-2050|access-date=2021-12-17|language=en-US}}</ref>

Kagame's economic policy has been praised by many foreign donors and investors, including [[Bill Clinton]] and [[Starbucks]] chairman [[Howard Schultz]].{{sfn|Grant|2010}}{{sfn|Adams|2009}} The country is also recognized internationally for its effective institutions and low levels of corruption.{{sfn|Thomson|2011|p=441}}

Rwanda has also illegally exploited Congolese minerals, which is an important aspect of the success of Rwanda's economy.{{sfn|Grant|2010}}{{sfn|Reyntjens|2013|pp=164–165}} [[Political economy]] researcher Stefaan Marysse estimated that in 1999, 6.1% of Rwanda's GDP came from illegal resource extraction in the DRC.{{sfn|Cassimon ''et al.''|2013|p=54}} In 2013, foreign aid made up over 20 percent of GDP and nearly half of the budget.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2013|p=164}} Economic growth has disproportionally accrued to elites in the capital while rural areas lag behind.{{sfn|Thomson|2011|p=451}} Although the government officially has a policy of [[privatization]], in practice it has increased state control of the economy using corporations with strong ties to the state and the ruling party.{{sfn|Reyntjens|2013|p=165}}

Rwanda is a country of few natural resources,{{sfn|Department of State (I)|2012}} and the economy is heavily dependent on [[subsistence agriculture]], with an estimated {{Percentage|75.3|100|0}} of the working population engaged in farming. Under Kagame's presidency, the [[service sector]] has grown strongly. It makes up approximately half of the country's GDP and is the second largest employer after agriculture.<ref name=":1" /> Key tertiary contributors include banking and finance, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, transport, storage, communication, insurance, real estate, business services, and public administration, including education and health.{{sfn|Nantaba|2010}} [[Information and communications technology]] (ICT) is a Vision 2020 priority, with a goal of transforming Rwanda into an ICT hub for Africa.{{sfn|Kanyesigye|2012}} To this end, the government has completed a {{convert|2300|km|mi}} [[fibre optic|fibre-optic]] telecommunications network, intended to provide broadband services and facilitate electronic commerce.{{sfn|Reuters (III)|2011}} [[Tourism in Rwanda|Tourism]] is one of the fastest-growing economic resources and became the country's leading [[Foreign-exchange reserves|foreign exchange]] earner in 2011.{{sfn|Birakwate|2012}}

Rwanda ranks highly in several categories of the World Bank's [[ease of doing business index]]. In 2005, after the country was ranked 158th on the Ease of Doing Business Index, Kagame set up a special unit to analyze the economy and provide solutions to easing business.{{sfn|Topping|2014}} As a result, the country topped the list of reformers in 2009.{{sfn|Murdock|2010}} In 2012, the country's overall ease of doing business index ranking was 52nd out of 185 countries worldwide, and third out of 46 in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].{{sfn|World Bank (IV)|2012}} It was eighth on the 2012 rankings for ease of starting a business;{{sfn|World Bank (III)|2012}} the [[Rwanda Development Board]] asserts that a business can be authorised and registered in 24 hours.{{sfn|Murdock|2010}} The business environment and economy also benefit from relatively low corruption in the country; in 2010, [[Transparency International]] ranked Rwanda as the eighth cleanest out of 47 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and sixty-sixth cleanest out of 178 in the world.{{sfn|Transparency International|2010}}

====Education and health====
{{further|COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda}}
Kagame has made education for [[youth in Rwanda]] a high priority for his administration, allocating {{percentage|17|100}} of the annual budget to the sector.{{sfn|World Review|2013}} The Rwandan government provides free education in state-run schools for twelve years: six years in primary and six in secondary school.{{sfn|UNDP|2012}} The final three years of free education were introduced in 2012 following a pledge by Kagame during his 2010 re-election campaign.{{sfn|Rwirahira|2012}} Kagame credits his government with improvements in the tertiary education sector; the number of universities has risen from 1 in 1994 to 29 in 2010,{{sfn|Kagame|2011}} and the tertiary [[gross enrollment ratio]] increased from {{Percentage|4|100|0}} in 2008 to {{Percentage|7|100|0}} in 2011.{{sfn|World Bank (I)}} From 1994 until 2009, secondary education was offered in either French or English;{{sfn|McGreal|2009}} since 2009, due to the country's increasing ties with the [[East African Community]] and the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], English has been the sole language of instruction in public schools from primary school grade 4 onward.{{sfn|VSO|2012|p=3}} The country's [[literacy]] rate, defined as those aged 15 or over who can read and write, was {{Percentage|71|100|0}} in 2009, up from 58% in 1991 and 38% in 1978.{{sfn|World Bank (II)}}

Rwanda's health profile is dominated by communicable diseases,{{sfn|WHO (I)|2009|p=5}} including [[malaria]], [[pneumonia]], and [[HIV/AIDS]]. Prevalence and mortality rates have sharply declined in the past decade{{sfn|WHO (I)|2009|pp=4–7}} but the short supply or unavailability of certain medicines continues to challenge disease management.{{sfn|WHO (I)|2009|p=10}} Kagame's government is seeking to improve this situation as one of the Vision 2020 priorities. It has increased funding, with the health budget up from {{Percentage|32|1000|1}} of national expenditure in 1996 to {{Percentage|97|1000|1}} in 2008.{{sfn|WHO (I)|2009|p=10}} It also set up training institutes, including the [[Kigali Health Institute]] (KHI),{{sfn|KHI|2012}} and in 2008 effected laws making health insurance mandatory for all individuals;{{sfn|WHO (II)|2008}} by 2010, over {{Percentage|90|100|0}} of the population was covered.{{sfn|McNeil|2010}} These policies have contributed to a steady increase in quality of healthcare and improvement in key indicators during Kagame's presidency. In 2010, 91 children died before their fifth birthday for every 1000 live births, down from 163 under five deaths for every 1000 live births in 1990.{{sfn|UNICEF|2012}} Prevalence of some diseases is declining, including the elimination of maternal and neonatal [[tetanus]]{{sfn|WHO (I)|2009|p=4}} and a sharp reduction in malaria [[morbidity]], [[mortality rate]], and specific [[lethality]].{{sfn|WHO (I)|2009|p=5}} In response to shortages in qualified medical personnel, in 2011 the Rwandan government launched an eight-year US$151.8&nbsp;million initiative to train medical professionals.{{sfn|Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program|2011}}

Kagame has garnered praise for the country's response to the ongoing global [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Despite the country having a relatively underdeveloped health care system, Rwanda has one of the lowest infection and mortality rates in the world, and is seen as a success story. Rwanda is currently the only nation in Africa whose residents are permitted to enter the [[Schengen Area]] for non essential travel.{{sfn|Beaubien|2020}} Rwanda's response has not been without its criticisms, in particular the curbing of [[civil liberties]] and [[individualism|individual freedoms]].{{sfn|Bariyo|2020}} By April 2022. Rwanda was one of the few countries in Africa to have fully vaccinated over 60% of its population against COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |title=Covid-19: Rwanda has vaccinated over 60% of its population |url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/04/08/rwanda-has-vaccinated-over-60-of-its-population/ |website=Africanews |access-date=30 April 2022 |date=9 April 2022}}</ref>