“For Mr Kagame (above), an appearance of democracy has been essential to reassure investors and Western donors who might otherwise be accused of bankrolling a dictator,” The Economist notes: [But] Rwanda’s once-warm relations with Western donors have soured. Technocrats like the finance minister, Claver Gatete, say they felt betrayed when aid was suspended to punish Rwanda over its foreign entanglements, regardless of its progress in reducing poverty. The RPF sought to exploit these tensions in the campaign, calling for more self-reliance. Tens of thousands of supporters were told the country must ween itself off Western aid. Foreign aid has decreased slightly, from about 40% of government spending to 38%. Loans from China have made up the shortfall; Mr Kagame likes the Chinese model. - See more at: demdigest.net/blog/2013/09/rwanda-poll-highlights-appeal-of-china-model/#sthash.wQoxgIEE.dpuf
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 22:11:41 +0000
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