Rwandan President Paul Kagame made a public appearance on Tuesday, meeting with former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo, amidst swirling rumors about his health following a prolonged absence from public view.
Kagame, 67, had not been seen publicly since June 6, sparking online speculation given his typically active and visible presence.
However, his office moved to quell these rumors by posting photos of the meeting with Obasanjo, who is involved in peace talks concerning the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda faces accusations of supporting armed rebels fighting the Congolese government in that conflict.
A Canadian-based dissident had claimed this week that President Kagame was being treated in Germany for a “brain injury,” a claim that a German diplomatic source could not confirm.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo addressed the concerns directly, telling local news site Taarifa, “There is nothing to be worried or concerned about.”
An unnamed “family member” echoed this, stating, “He is a human being, and like anyone else, he takes time to rest. There is nothing unusual or alarming.”
The Rwandan army also used X to label a widely circulated statement, falsely attributed to them, about the president facing a “serious health crisis” as “fake.”
Kagame has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since 1994, when he led a rebel uprising that overthrew the extremist Hutu regime.
This regime was responsible for the genocide that resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority.
He was re-elected last year for his fourth term with over 99 percent of the vote.
While many Rwandans view him as a visionary who modernized the country, others criticize him as a ruthless leader who suppresses opposition.
