A tragic incident occurred at an election rally for Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, resulting in one death and dozens of injuries, officials reported.
The campaign for the upcoming general election, set for July, commenced on Saturday. President Kagame held two rallies in northern Rwanda over the weekend.
The fatal crush took place on Sunday in the Rubavu district, leaving 37 people injured, with four requiring hospitalization for serious injuries, according to a statement from the Ministry of Local Government. The ministry expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and assured that the medical team on-site made every effort to provide assistance.
President Kagame, who has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since 1994 following the end of the genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group by his then rebel group, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, is running for a fourth term.
He secured the last presidential election in 2017 with an overwhelming 99% of the vote. Despite facing criticism from human rights groups for suppressing opposition, Kagame staunchly defends Rwanda’s human rights record, claiming the country respects political freedoms.
Following Sunday’s tragic event, the Ministry of Local Government urged campaign participants to adhere to safety instructions to ensure everyone’s well-being during campaign activities.
Neither President Kagame nor his party, the RPF Inkotanyi, has commented on the deadly crush. However, on Monday morning, the RPF Inkotanyi posted a video on Facebook showing Kagame’s appearance at the rally, with crowds of supporters enthusiastically cheering, dancing, and waving flags. The party claimed an attendance of approximately 250,000 people.
In the presidential race, Kagame is set to compete against Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Diane Rwigara, a prominent critic of Kagame, was disqualified from running in the upcoming election.
The electoral commission cited her failure to provide proper documentation proving the absence of a criminal record and sufficient nationwide support as reasons for her disqualification. Rwigara, who was also barred from the 2017 election, refuted these reasons, claiming she was unfairly denied her right to campaign.
Rwandans will cast their votes on July 15 to elect their next president and lawmakers.
