Kagame Urges African Youth to Tackle Challenges Instead of Seeking Escape Abroad

Addressing the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 in Kigali on Monday, Kagame told young people that it is better to try and fail than to fail without trying. He cautioned that migration does not guarantee safety or prosperity, noting that many African migrants face deportation or worse.

“It would be better for us to focus on confronting our problems instead of running away from them,” Kagame said. “Wherever you go, you will still find challenges — and sometimes even more — especially when you are eventually sent back to where you came from.”

His remarks came as the International Organization for Migration reported that more than 73,000 migrants lost their lives between 2014 and February 2025 while attempting irregular journeys, many across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

Kagame said governments have a responsibility to create opportunities for youth, but he stressed that young Africans must also take initiative.

“You are the engine behind many government programs,” he said. “But you cannot just wait until a problem arises and expect someone else to solve it. You should be out there using your energy to seek solutions, while governments and partners support your efforts.”

The president urged youth to set clear goals, drive agricultural transformation and ensure food security across Africa, saying change must go beyond rhetoric.

“Why don’t we do what we know we should be doing? We need to move from words to action,” Kagame said. “Take responsibility, make your contribution, and then you can hold others accountable.”

Kagame concluded by warning against dependency, reminding young Africans that the continent has the resources to feed itself and even supply other regions if its people, especially the youth, commit to solutions at home.