Kagame Calls for Africa to Reset Its Mindset and Embrace Greater Responsibility

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called on Africans to change their attitudes, behaviours and ways of working, saying the continent cannot achieve lasting progress without a fundamental shift in mindset.

Kagame made the remarks on Tuesday during a high-level panel at the inaugural Africa Mindset Reset Forum 2026 in Kigali, held under the theme “From Pan-Africanism to Meta-Africanism.” The conference is organised by the African School of Governance (ASG) and focuses on resetting African states for good governance, peace and stability.

“We have to change our continent, but we can’t change our continent without changing our behavior, our way of doing things, our attitudes,” Kagame said.

The forum brought together African leaders, former heads of state, policymakers, young leaders and representatives of youth organisations for discussions on Africa’s future.

Among those participating alongside Kagame were former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and Sidi Ould Tah, alongside young African leaders and representatives of the International Youth Summit on Peace and African Unity.

The discussions seek to build on the legacy of African leaders such as Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah and Thomas Sankara, while examining how the continent can move beyond traditional Pan-Africanism towards what organisers describe as “Meta-Africanism.”

The concept calls for a new African mindset centred on innovation, self-belief, shared progress and greater ownership of the continent’s future. Organisers argue that while Pan-Africanism played a critical role in advancing African unity, liberation and dignity, the next phase should focus on Africa defining how it thinks, leads, builds and educates.

Opening the forum, ASG President Francis Gatare said Africa has never lacked resources or talent, but has often been constrained by what he described as a “mindset of scarcity.” He argued that Africa’s progress should be understood as interconnected, where the advancement of one person or country contributes to the advancement of others.

“None of us is independent if one of us is not independent,” Gatare said.

Kagame similarly stressed that Africa’s challenge is not simply identifying problems and solutions, but translating aspirations into action. He urged Africans to take greater responsibility for shaping the continent’s future and to close the gap between what they say they want and what they actually do.

The forum has presented the mindset reset as part of a broader effort to strengthen African leadership, governance, peace and stability while encouraging young Africans to play a greater role in determining the continent’s direction.

With thousands of participants attending in person and online, the Africa Mindset Reset Forum is positioning Kigali as a platform for a wider continental conversation about Africa’s next chapter — one driven by self-belief, accountability, innovation and collective responsibility.