Our foreign correspondents in Rwanda have interviewed Jean Dusabe, director of Common Everybody, an internet platform that teams up school children around the world. He shares his views on Trump’s win that took many of his countrymen by surprise – and who is now a popular person according to Dusabe.
- Do people in your area care about the US election result?
Some people do care, especially those who have a TV in their homes and can watch the news. During the campaign, everyone thought Clinton would win so the whole nation was surprised by the election result. People started sharing news in English and in French on Whatsapp about Trumpization (a new word from Trump) about this surprise win. - Will it have any impact on you and your family?
There might be some small, indirect impact, because the US is a powerful country and many Rwandans are keen to visit. However, some people might now feel that it is not as free as it used to be. Also, if some US organizations stop operating in Rwanda then there will definitely be some negative impact. - Which politician is popular in Rwanda at the moment and why?
I think it’s probably Trump just at the moment. During his campaign people thought he was almost just passing time and nobody thought he would actually get voted in. It seems in hindsight though that he was on the right track. His victory has made people think again about Americans. American’s voted for Trump and this means it’s not only Trump with some unpopular ideas but also the Americans who voted him in.