Rwandan President Paul Kagame has offered a controversial and pragmatic viewpoint on the recent wave of military takeovers across Africa. He stated that he could accept a coup if the new leadership tackles corruption and genuinely improves the lives of citizens.

For President Kagame, the legitimacy of a takeover is judged not by how power is seized, but by the results delivered afterward. He argues that many of these coups are a consequence of fundamental failures in established governance.

The Rwandan leader drew a clear line between what he considers acceptable and unacceptable military interventions:

He stated, acceptable Coups are those led by new leaders who successfully address chronic corruption and bring tangible improvements to the quality of life for the populace. And unacceptable Coups are those that simply replace one failing government with another, making “empty promises” and failing to deliver concrete results.

Kagame suggests the upheavals are “born from failed leadership” and are a reaction to governments that consistently fall short of citizens’ expectations.

Kagame’s perspective is intrinsically linked to Rwanda’s own trajectory, which he has led since the country’s economic and political revival began. His leadership, formally as President since 2000, has been defined by an unyielding focus on national unity and economic rebirth following the 1994 genocide.

His administration implemented highly stringent anti-corruption measures. These policies have been so effective that Rwanda is consistently ranked as one of East Africa’s least corrupt nations in global perception indices.

This strict focus on accountability and efficiency has driven significant developmental gains in recent years, including rapid infrastructure development, high rates of technology adoption, driving the country’s ambition to become a regional IT hub and major improvements in healthcare provision and universal basic education.

For Kagame, the critical metric is performance and delivery for the people. This focus on verifiable outcomes above conventional democratic processes has been the hallmark of his time in power and now serves as the yardstick he applies to other African military takeovers.