Louise Mushikiwabo, Umunyamabanga Mukuru w’Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Ibihugu bikoresha Igifaransa (OIF), yagarutse ku mateka y’ubuzima bwe, kuva mu bwana bwe i Kigali, uko yakuriye mu muryango w’abana icyenda, amashuri yize, imyaka yamaze muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, kugeza ku rugendo rw’akazi rwamugejeje mu buyobozi bwa dipolomasi mu Rwanda no ku rwego mpuzamahanga.
Mu kiganiro cyihariye yagiranye na Attractive Africa, ikiganiro cya televiziyo Africa 24, Mushikiwabo yagarutse ku bintu bitandukanye bitazwi na benshi ku buzima bwe, birimo uko yakuriye mu muryango mugari, inzozi yari afite akiri umunyeshuri, uko yahanganye n’ingaruka za Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi mu 1994, ndetse n’uko yaje kuva muri Guverinoma y’u Rwanda akajya kuyobora OIF.
Yanasobanuye ko, nubwo amaze imyaka myinshi mu mirimo ikomeye ya politiki na dipolomasi, ari umuntu ukunda urwenya, kubyina, kuririmba, gutembera mu misozi no kumarana igihe n’umuryango we.
Yakuriye i Kigali mu muryango w’abana icyenda
Louise Mushikiwabo yavutse mu 1961, akurira i Kigali mu muryango w’abana icyenda, akaba ari we muhererezi.
Avuga ko kuba umwana wa nyuma mu muryango mugari byatumye akura yitabwaho cyane, agakundwa n’ababyeyi ndetse n’abavandimwe be bamurutaga.
Yibuka ko mu rugo iwabo hahoraga urukundo, urwenya n’ibitwenge, nubwo igihugu cyari gifite ibibazo bya politiki byatumaga ubuzima butorohera buri wese.
Ati: “Nakuriye mu muryango warangwaga n’urukundo rwinshi, urwenya n’ibitwenge byinshi. Uko imyaka yagiye ishira, nabuze benshi mu bagize umuryango wanjye. Ariko nagize ubwana bwiza, mu gihugu cyari gifite ibibazo, nyamara twe tukaba twari twishimye muri uwo muryango mugari.”
Mu byo yibuka cyane harimo umuvandimwe we wamurutaga ho imyaka mike, wakundaga gukina Karate no kwiga ibijyanye n’ubukanishi. Uwo muvandimwe yamubereye umuntu umurinda mu bwana bwe, cyane cyane ku ishuri.
Mushikiwabo avuga ko yari umwana utuje, utarakundaga kwishora mu bibazo. Icyakora, hari igihe abahungu biganaga na we bashakaga kumutera ubwoba, ariko akaba yari azi ko afite umuvandimwe umuba hafi.
Yibuka umunsi umwe batashye bavuye ku ishuri n’amaguru, abahungu biganaga n’uwo muvandimwe we bakamutegereza bashaka kumutera ubwoba. Kubera ko yari azi ko umuvandimwe we amuri inyuma, iyo yahindukiraga akamureba, yahitaga aza yiruka, ba bahungu na bo bagahita bahunga.
Kuri we, ni kimwe mu bintu byamushimishaga byagaragazaga urukundo n’uburyo abavandimwe be bamwitagaho.
Yize siyansi ariko inzozi ze zari mu itangazamakuru n’indimi
Amashuri yisumbuye Mushikiwabo yayize muri Lycée Notre-Dame d’Afrique, ishuri ry’abakobwa ryibandaga ku masomo ya siyansi, riherereye mu Burengerazuba bw’u Rwanda.
Yigaga Ubutabire, Ubugenge n’Imibare, ariko avuga ko Imibare itari isomo yakundaga cyane, kuko atabonaga neza aho ibyo yigaga byakoreshwaga mu buzima busanzwe.
Nubwo yari mu ishuri rya siyansi, yakundaga cyane indimi, by’umwihariko Icyongereza. Yakuze akoresha Igifaransa, nyuma yiga Icyongereza, kimufasha kurushaho kugira amatsiko yo kumenya iby’ahandi.
Mu byifuzo yari afite akiri umunyeshuri harimo no kuba umunyamakuru. Yigeze gusaba kujya kwiga itangazamakuru muri Sénégal, mu ishuri rizwi nka Centre d’Études des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information (CESTI), riherereye i Dakar.
Icyakora, uwo mugambi ntiwaje gukunda, ahubwo yakomereje amashuri muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika.
Yize indimi muri Kaminuza Nkuru y’u Rwanda, aho yakuye impamyabumenyi mu Cyongereza mu 1984. Mu 1986 yerekeje muri Amerika gukomeza amasomo y’icyiciro cya gatatu cya kaminuza.
Avuga ko kugeza afite imyaka 21 yari ataramenya neza icyo azakora, ari na byo byatumye agenda ahindura amahitamo, ava muri siyansi yerekeza mu ndimi.
Yagiriye inama urubyiruko, cyane cyane abafite imyaka iri hagati ya 13 na 15, gutangira kwitegereza no guteza imbere ibyo bakunda kugira ngo bizabafashe guhitamo icyerekezo cy’ubuzima bwabo.
Yageze muri Amerika ashaka kwiga no kwishimira ubuzima
Muri Kanama 1986, Mushikiwabo yavuye mu Rwanda ajya muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, aho yakomereje amasomo muri Kaminuza ya Delaware.
Avuga ko atari ajyanywe gusa no gushaka kugera ku cyo Abanyamerika bita American Dream, ahubwo yari afite n’amatsiko yo kumenya icyo gihugu yari asanzwe azi mu bitekerezo.
Ati: “Nashakaga kuvumbura Amerika, kuba kure y’ababyeyi, nta kugenzurwa, ahubwo nkishimira no kujya mu birori.”
Yasobanuye ko Amerika yamwigishije kwigenga no kwikorera ibintu byinshi yari asanzwe akorerwa n’abandi mu muryango yakuriyemo.
Ati: “Kuva mu Rwanda njya muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika mu myaka ya 1980 byanyigishije kwigenga. Kwigenga mu buryo bwo kwikorera byose.”
Ageze muri Amerika, yagombaga kwita ku buzima bwe bwa buri munsi, kwishyura fagitire z’amazi n’amashanyarazi no gushaka uko abona amafaranga yo gukoresha.
Mu gihe yakurikiranaga amasomo, yanakoraga muri kaminuza kugira ngo abone amafaranga yo kwifashisha. Yibuka ko yitoje kutajya asaba amafaranga umuryango we, ahubwo akamenya gukoresha neza ayo yabaga afite.
Amerika yamwigishije kuvuga ashize amanga
Mushikiwabo avuga ko kimwe mu bintu byamugoye mu ntangiriro ari ukwisanzura mu kuvuga imbere y’abandi.
Yari umukobwa wakuriye mu Rwanda, wumvaga yoroherwa no kwandika kurusha kuvuga. Ageze muri Kaminuza ya Delaware, abarimu be babonaga ko atsinda neza ibizamini byanditse, ariko ntitware kimwe mu biganiro byo mu ishuri.
Muri Amerika, abanyeshuri basabwaga kuvuga, gusobanura ibitekerezo byabo no kugaragaza ko basobanukiwe ibyo biga.
Ibyo byamusabye guhindura uburyo yari amenyereye bwo kwiga no kuganira.
Ati: “Nize kuvuga ibyo ntekereza nshize amanga, nkabisobanura neza. Kubera amahirwe, ibyo byamfashije cyane mu mirimo nakoze nyuma.”
Avuga ko ubwo bushobozi bwamufashije cyane mu kazi ka dipolomasi, aho umuntu aba agomba kumenya kuvugira igihugu cyangwa ikigo ahagarariye no kurengera inyungu zacyo.
Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi yahinduye uko abona ubuzima
Mu gihe Mushikiwabo yari muri Amerika, mu Rwanda habaye Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi mu 1994, yahitanye abantu umunani bo mu muryango we.
Avuga ko ari kimwe mu bihe bikomeye cyane by’ubuzima bwe, kuko byamweretse ubukana bw’amateka y’igihugu cye ndetse n’ububabare bwo kubura abo mu muryango.
Ati: “Kuri njye, nk’uko mbitekereza no ku bandi Banyarwanda benshi, buri gihe hariho mbere ya 1994 na nyuma ya 1994, kuko twahuye n’ikintu tutari twarigeze dutekereza ko gishoboka. N’ikimenyimenyi, ijambo Jenoside mu rurimi rwacu, mu Kinyarwanda, byasabye ko rihimbwa.”
Kuba yari kure y’u Rwanda byarushijeho kumubabaza. Yabaga muri Amerika, atazi neza uko abo mu muryango we bamerewe, kandi nta bushobozi afite bwo kubatabara.
Ati: “Hari igihe uba udashobora kugira icyo ukora. Ugahorana ubwoba bumara amezi n’amezi. Cyari n’igihe cyo kwiheba.”
Nyuma ya Jenoside, yavuye muri Amerika ajya muri Uganda guhura n’abagize umuryango we bari bararokotse. Avuga ko urwo rugendo rwari rukomeye mu mutwe no mu mutima, kuko yari yuzuye agahinda n’ibitekerezo byinshi.
Ibyo bihe byatumye atangira kureba ubuzima mu buryo butandukanye n’uko yari asanzwe abubona.
Ati: “Nyuma ya Jenoside no kubura abanjye, natangiye rwose guha agaciro buri kanya k’ubuzima.”
Igitabo yanditse cyamufashije kwibuka abo mu muryango we
Mu 2006, Mushikiwabo yasohoye igitabo yise Rwanda Means the Universe: A Native’s Memoir of Blood and Bloodlines, yanditse afatanyije n’umunyamakuru w’Umunyamerika Jack Kramer.
Iki gitabo kivuga ku mateka y’umuryango we, ubuzima bwo mu Rwanda, amateka y’igihugu n’ibyabaye muri Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi.
Yasobanuye ko igitekerezo cyo kucyandika cyaturutse ku kuba inkuru nyinshi za Jenoside zakundaga kugarukira ku mibare y’abishwe, ariko iyo mibare ntigaragaze abo bantu abo bari bo, uko babagaho n’icyo basobanuye ku miryango yabo.
Yavuze ko atifuzaga kuvuga gusa ko yabuze abantu umunani bo mu muryango we, ahubwo yashakaga kuvuga ubuzima bwabo, ibyo bakundaga n’uko yabibukaga.
Yaje gusanga kuvuga amateka y’umuryango we gusa bidahagije, kuko abasomyi batari bazi u Rwanda bashoboraga kutumva neza imiterere y’ibyabaye.
Ati: “Nyuma y’igihe, byabaye nk’uburyo bwo kwivura, kuko byansabaga kuvuga abo bantu ntarize. Byansabaga kwibuka ibihe twabanye.”
Yavuye muri Amerika akorera IMF na Banki Nyafurika Itsura Amajyambere
Nyuma yo kurangiza amasomo y’icyiciro cya gatatu cya kaminuza muri Delaware mu 1988, Mushikiwabo yakomeje kuba muri Amerika, yerekeza i Washington DC.
Yakoze imirimo yo gusemura no guhindura inyandiko mu ndimi, anagira uruhare mu bikorwa byo gushyigikira inyungu z’abantu n’ibigo mu nzego zifata ibyemezo, bizwi nka lobbying.
Yanakoze igihe gito mu Kigega Mpuzamahanga cy’Imari (IMF).
Muri iyo myaka, yakoranye n’abantu baturutse mu bihugu bitandukanye, bituma arushaho kugira amatsiko yo gukorera ku mugabane wa Afurika.
Mu 2006, yimukiye muri Tunisie, aho yagiye gukora muri Banki Nyafurika Itsura Amajyambere (BAD). Yakoraga mu bijyanye n’itumanaho, harimo no kwandika imbwirwaruhame za Perezida w’iyo banki, Donald Kaberuka, wahoze ari Minisitiri w’Imari w’u Rwanda.
Avuga ko kujya muri Tunisie byamuhaye andi mahirwe yo kumenya Afurika, kuko yakoranaga n’abantu baturutse mu bihugu byinshi bigize uwo mugabane.
Uko yavuye muri banki akagirwa Minisitiri mu Rwanda
Mushikiwabo yahishuye ko mbere yo kuba Minisitiri mu Rwanda, yari yarigeze gutekerezwaho ngo abe Ambasaderi w’u Rwanda mu Busuwisi.
Icyo gihe, uwari uhagarariye u Rwanda muri icyo gihugu yari agiye kwimukira mu mirimo y’Umuryango Mpuzamahanga w’Ubucuruzi (OMC).
Mushikiwabo yaje mu Rwanda kugirana ibiganiro n’inzego zibishinzwe ku bijyanye n’uwo mwanya. Icyakora, muri ibyo biganiro ni na bwo habonetse amahirwe yo kujya gukora muri Banki Nyafurika Itsura Amajyambere.
Yahisemo kujya muri Tunisie, kuko yari amaze igihe kinini mu bihugu byo mu Burengerazuba bw’Isi, akaba yarifuzaga kumenya ubundi buzima n’indi mico.
Mu 2008, yahamagariwe kuva muri Tunisie ajya i Kigali, ahabwa inshingano zo kuba Minisitiri w’Itangazamakuru n’Umuvugizi wa Guverinoma.
Yasobanuye ko kumenya Ikinyarwanda, Igifaransa n’Icyongereza, ndetse no kugira ubumenyi bw’ibanze mu Giswahili, biri mu byamufashaga kuba umukandida ubereye uwo mwanya.
Ati: “Ntabwo nari narigeze nkorera Guverinoma. Byansabaga kumenyera imikorere n’imyitwarire isabwa muri Guverinoma no gusobanukirwa neza inyungu z’igihugu cyanjye.”
Mu 2009, Mushikiwabo yagizwe Minisitiri w’Ububanyi n’Amahanga n’Ubutwererane, umwanya yagumyeho kugeza mu 2018.
Avuga ko mu myaka yamaze muri dipolomasi yize byinshi, cyane cyane ku bijyanye no kurengera inyungu z’igihugu, kuganira n’abantu bafite imyumvire itandukanye no kubaka imikoranire.
Kureka kuba Minisitiri akajya kuyobora OIF byaramugoye
Mushikiwabo avuga ko kimwe mu byemezo bikomeye yafashe mu buzima bwe ari ukwemera kuva ku mwanya wa Minisitiri w’Ububanyi n’Amahanga kugira ngo yiyamamarize kuyobora OIF.
Mu Ukwakira 2018, yatorewe i Erevan muri Armenia kuba Umunyamabanga Mukuru w’uwo muryango, atangira inshingano muri Mutarama 2019.
Yabaye umugore wa mbere w’Umunyafurika ugeze kuri uwo mwanya, aza kongera gutorerwa manda ya kabiri mu Ugushyingo 2022.
Avuga ko igihe yafashe icyemezo cyo kuva muri Guverinoma y’u Rwanda, yabanje kubitekerezaho igihe kirekire kuko yakundaga akazi yakoraga, kandi yumvaga ko yari afite inshingano zikomeye ku gihugu cye.
Ati: “Nabitekerejeho igihe kirekire kuko nakundaga cyane ibyo nakoraga. Kuri njye, wari umwanya w’icyubahiro gikomeye. Kandi numvaga, mu buryo runaka, nk’aho ntereranye igihugu cyanjye.”
Kujya kuyobora OIF byamusabaga kandi kwimukira mu Bufaransa, igihugu atari yarigeze aturamo, ndetse no kongera gutegura ubuzima bw’umuryango we.
Nubwo byamugoye, avuga ko yishimira icyemezo yafashe. Abajijwe niba hari icyo yicuza, yasubije ati: “Nta kintu na kimwe nicuza.”
Ibyo yishimira ku buyobozi bwa OIF
Mushikiwabo avuga ko yinjiye mu buyobozi bwa OIF yiyemeje gukora ibishoboka byose kugira ngo uwo muryango urusheho gutera imbere.
Mu byo yishimira harimo kuvugurura imiyoborere, guhuza gahunda zawo kugira ngo wibande ku bikorwa bike ariko bifite umusaruro ushobora gupimwa, ndetse no kuvugurura imicungire y’imari.
Yavuze ko habayeho kongera umusanzu utangwa n’ibihugu biwugize no gukemura ibibazo by’imyenda y’ibirarane byari bimaze igihe.
Yagaragaje ko ashimishwa no kubona OIF irushaho kugira ijambo mu ruhando mpuzamahanga, cyane cyane mu bijyanye n’ururimi rw’Igifaransa, umuco, ikoranabuhanga, urubyiruko n’abagore.
Ati: “Twageze ku bintu byiza, dufite umusaruro, cyane cyane ku rubyiruko n’abagore bo mu bihugu bikoresha Igifaransa, ariko haracyari byinshi cyane byo gukora.”
Mushikiwabo, uri mu bakandida bahatanira kongera kuyobora OIF muri manda ya gatatu, yavuze ko agifite imbaraga n’ubushake bwo gukomeza gukorera uyu muryango.
Amatora y’Umunyamabanga Mukuru wa OIF ateganyijwe mu Nama y’Abakuru b’Ibihugu na za Guverinoma izabera i Phnom Penh muri Cambodge, ku wa 15 na 16 Ugushyingo 2026.
Ubuzima bwe bwite: Yashyingiwe muri Amerika mu 2000
Nubwo amaze imyaka myinshi mu mirimo ya politiki na dipolomasi, Mushikiwabo avuga ko akunda ubuzima busanzwe, inshuti, umuryango no kuganira n’abantu.
Yasobanuye ko akunda kumarana igihe n’abantu bo mu byiciro bitandukanye by’imyaka, kuva ku bakobwa bakiri bato kugeza ku bagore bakuze, ba nyirasenge na ba nyirakuru.
Avuga ko akunda kuganira n’abandi bagore, kubagira inama no kubafasha mu rugendo rw’ubuzima.
Ku bijyanye n’umuryango we bwite, Mushikiwabo yavuze ko yashyingiwe muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika mu 2000. Yagaragaje kandi ko ubuzima bw’umuryango we bugabanyije hagati ya Paris mu Bufaransa na Kigali mu Rwanda.
Avuga ko akunda kubyina, kuririmba no kwishimana n’abandi, ndetse ko mu buto bwe yigeze no gukina amakinamico.
Ati: “Ndi umuntu urangwa n’icyizere, nubwo nanyuze mu mateka akomeye y’umuryango wanjye n’ay’igihugu cyanjye. Ni bwo buryo bwanjye bwo kwishimira ubuzima.”
Akunda imisozi, ibiti no gutembera n’amaguru
Mu byo Mushikiwabo akunda gukora iyo atari mu kazi harimo gutembera mu bidukikije, cyane cyane mu misozi no mu bice birimo ibiti n’indabo.
Avuga ko nubwo atari umuntu ukunda siporo cyane, akunda gukora ingendo ndende n’amaguru.
Yasobanuye ko gukurira mu Rwanda, igihugu gifite imisozi myinshi n’ibidukikije bitandukanye, byatumye akura akunda ibiti, ibimera, indabo n’imisozi.
Ati: “Nkunda cyane imisozi. Ntabwo ndi umuntu ukunda cyane inkombe z’inyanja, kuko mu bwana bwanjye ntigeze menya ubuzima bwo ku nkengero z’inyanja. Ndetse sinzi koga neza.”
Mu biruhuko yafashe muri Kanama 2026, Mushikiwabo yasuye u Rwanda, u Busuwisi n’u Butaliyani. Mu Busuwisi yatembereye mu misozi, mu Butaliyani ajya ku nyanja, anamara igihe mu Rwanda.
Avuga ko ibyo biruhuko byamugiriye akamaro kuko yabonye umwanya wo gusabana n’umuryango, kuruhuka, gusinzira bihagije no kumara igihe mu bidukikije.
Yagarutse ku burwayi bw’umugabo we bwabaye mu gihe cya COVID-19
Mu bihe bikomeye byamubayeho mu buzima bwe bwite, Mushikiwabo yagarutse ku burwayi umugabo we yagize mu 2020, ubwo isi yari ihanganye n’icyorezo cya COVID-19.
Icyo gihe yari i Paris mu Bufaransa, mu gihe umugabo we yari mu Rwanda. Ibihugu byinshi byari byarafunze imipaka, ingendo z’indege zarahagaritswe, bituma kumugeraho bitoroha.
Mushikiwabo yavuze ko nubwo yari ahangayitse, yagerageje kwifata no gufata ibyemezo byihuse, kuko yumvaga ko umugabo we yari amukeneye afite imbaraga.
Yashatse uburyo bwo gukora urugendo muri ibyo bihe bigoye, ajya kumusanganira i Nairobi muri Kenya, nyuma bombi basubirana i Paris kugira ngo ahabwe ubuvuzi.
Ati: “Nishimiye cyane imbaraga nagize muri icyo gihe.”
Abajijwe niba umuntu uri mu mwanya ukomeye nk’uwe ashobora no kugira ibihe byo gucika intege, Mushikiwabo yavuze ko nta muntu uhora akomeye buri gihe.
Ati: “Icy’ingenzi kurusha ibindi ni ukubasha kongera guhaguruka iyo uguye.”
Inama yagiriye abakobwa n’abagore bifuza kugera kure
Mushikiwabo yavuze ko kuba yarabaye umugore wa mbere w’Umunyafurika uyobora OIF ari inshingano yamwumvishije ko agomba no kuba urugero rwiza ku bandi bagore.
Yasobanuye ko mu mirimo ikomeye abagore baba bafite inshingano zo gukora neza, atari ukubera inyungu zabo gusa, ahubwo no kugira ngo bagaragaze ubushobozi bwabo.
Ku bakobwa bakiri bato bifuza kuzagera mu nzego z’ubuyobozi, yabasabye kubanza kwigirira icyizere no kwizera ubushobozi bwabo, ariko bakamenya ko ibyo bigomba kujyana no gukora cyane.
Ati: “Ni ingenzi kwigirira icyizere no kwizera ubushobozi bwawe. Ariko ibyo ntibihagije. Ugomba no kuba witeguye gukora cyane.”
Yagaragaje ko inzira yo kugera ku ntego atari ko buri gihe iba yoroshye, ariko ko umuntu agomba gukomeza gukora, kwihangana no kwizera ubushobozi bwe.
Inkuru y’ubuzima bwa Louise Mushikiwabo igaragaza urugendo rw’umukobwa wakuriye i Kigali, wanyuze mu mashuri y’indimi, akamenyera ubuzima bwo muri Amerika, agahangana n’ingaruka z’amateka akomeye y’u Rwanda, nyuma akaza kugera ku mirimo ikomeye mu gihugu no ku rwego mpuzamahanga.
