The last decade has marked a new era in Africa's development. In spite of one-off crises in parts of our continent, overall, democracy has made significant strides and armed conflicts have ebbed. Many African countries are taking advantage of the dividends of stability to focus on their economies which are registering encouraging growth rates. Evidence abounds to shut down critics who advocate the "hopeless continent" perspective.

Rwanda is no exception. In a complete departure from the system that brought on the genocide, Rwanda has chosen the path of dialogue, participatory democracy and inclusive politics. National programmes, including the Gacaca, Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Umushyikirano (National Dialogue Council), are all unique and important Rwandan solutions to Rwandan challenges. The current leadership is implementing policies that are relevant to the country's national context and are based on the desire to build a united, democratic and prosperous nation - one that every Rwandan deserves.

This is in keeping with the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) liberation struggle which had its origins in the search for justice and construction of a new inclusive Rwandan society capable of working towards freedom for all.

The RPF did not target civilians and never had any plans to harm ordinary citizens in the areas that they controlled. Personally motivated revenge killings by some RPF soldiers were severely punished, some times to protests from some human rights groups who thought the penalties too harsh. The fact is, large numbers of civilians fled to RPF controlled zones to escape violent attacks.

This is an army that to this day is respected for its extraordinary discipline, role in liberation and contribution to peace-keeping on the continent.

Persons seeking to undermine the reputation of the RPF and distort its efforts to correct historical wrongs in Rwanda often misrepresent the facts surrounding the disbanding of the Kibeho camp for displaced people.

A detailed investigation of these events was undertaken by the international community and the publicly available report showed that the RPF had acted correctly in disbanding a camp infiltrated by armed militias who had kept ordinary citizens hostage.

History also shows that while the RPF battled government troops and Interahamwe to stop the genocide all over Rwanda, the retreating army and militias coerced up to two million civilians to flee to the then Zaire, where respected aid agencies were unable to separate these armed elements from civilian refugees. The forces that committed the genocide in Rwanda were in control of the refugee camps and the masses of suffering Rwandans.

The RPF called repeatedly for the return of refugees to Rwanda and, whereas the Congolese authorities and international community proved completely ineffective, entered Congolese soil to successfully remove the threats of these camps in which the genocide perpetrators were regrouping in order to launch attacks on Rwanda and complete their elimination campaigns. Although to this day these ex-FAR and Interahamwe elements remain in the Congo and continue to wreak violence and conflict - those teeming camps were disbanded and the two million Rwandans that fled returned and were resettled.

These are the very Rwandans now involved in reconciling with their neighbours and working on developing their communities and their nation. The strides made by Rwandans - ordinary citizens and their leaders - to rebuild their country is clear for all to see and these efforts have earned the respect of fellow Africans and respected leaders on our continent and beyond.

In an absurd reading of present-day Rwanda, Fr. Carlos Rodriguez (Hakuna Matata? Rwanda's darker side, The Weekly Observer, January 17, 2008) concluded, from a brief visit and conversations with "anonymous sources", and after listing a long inventory of achievements that the country harboured "some 'unfinished business' kept in the deepest silence".

It is clear that apart from the RPF, no other institution or entity fought to stop the genocide and struggled to save lives. Not even the church, that most sacred of sanctuaries, was able to provide respite for victims of the genocide.

Further, some clergymen and women were actively involved in betraying and murdering the masses sheltered in their churches. How does one judge men of the cloth who abandon morality and take sides?

Clearly, not everybody is pleased with the success of Rwanda, especially those who are no longer benefiting from the divisive and unaccountable system of previous regimes.

No doubt, Rwanda has a dark past associated with the politics of divisionism, extremism, and hatred. This legacy of poor leadership directly contributed to the 1994 genocide, the consequences of which we all know too well.

The fact that the people of Rwanda have collectively searched for solutions to their harrowing problems is testimony to current progress and hope in the future. Thirteen years is not a long time but it has provided an opportunity for Rwandans to take stock of their past and attempt to understand their present as they forge a new future for the current and succeeding generations. This is no mean achievement.

While Rwanda may not be a paradise, just as no country can claim to be perfect, a lot has been achieved through the collective effort of the Rwandan people. From being a failed state in 1994 when the genocide began, Rwanda is today recognised as a nation with visionary leadership, good governance and significant results in key areas including socio-economic development.

Not all viewers of Rwanda may be objective or well-meaning in their assessment of the progress that this country has made, but the fact remains that Rwanda is moving on and remains steadfast in our struggle for development and prosperity.

The author is First Councellor at the Rwanda Embassy in Kampala