President Paul Kagame of Rwanda secured the backing of his ruling party on Saturday, positioning him as the official candidate for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for July. If successful, this victory could extend Kagame’s tenure in the central African nation, home to approximately 13 million people, to nearly three decades.
Kagame, who assumed the presidency in 2000 and has effectively held control since leading his rebel force to end the 1994 genocide in Kigali, received overwhelming support during a meeting of top officials from the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) held in the capital. An impressive 99.1% of the votes cast endorsed Kagame as the party’s candidate.
Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him, Kagame remarked, “We know where this country has come from, I appreciate the apparent role you have played in that. The burden you have given me, I have accepted to carry.”
The citizens of Rwanda are scheduled to elect their next leader for a five-year term on July 15, concurrently voting for lawmakers. In the previous election in August 2017, Kagame secured his current seven-year term with an overwhelming 98.63% of the vote, according to the electoral commission.
Rwanda amended its constitution in 2015, restricting Kagame to a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms after the conclusion of the present one later this year. Internationally praised for overseeing peace and economic growth since the tragic 1994 genocide, Kagame has faced increasing scrutiny from human rights groups. Critics accuse him of suppressing political opposition and curbing independent media.
As the July elections approach, Kagame is anticipated to contend with Frank Habineza from the Green Party and other opposition candidates, marking a crucial juncture in Rwanda’s political landscape.
