Rwanda's President Kagame sworn in for Fourth Term
-
Loading... - Bella Ferdinand
- 12 Aug 2024
- 57 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame was sworn in for a fourth term on Sunday, following a decisive victory in last month's election that secured him another five years in office. The 66-year-old leader, who has been in power for nearly 25 years, won the July election with an overwhelming 99.18% of the vote, after eight other candidates, including some of his most vocal opponents, were disqualified by the electoral commission.
Kagame, a former rebel leader, has been widely praised by Western and regional leaders for his role in ending the 1994 genocide and transforming Rwanda into a hub for investment and aid. However, his leadership has also been marred by accusations of human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and supporting rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo—allegations that Kagame has consistently denied.
During the swearing-in ceremony at Kigali's Amahoro National Stadium, Kagame reflected on his tenure and the future: "For the last 30 years, our country has been good work in progress. This new mandate means the beginning of even more hard work. That expectation to keep improving is not a dream, it is a reality. We can do it and we will do it."
The event was attended by thousands of supporters, many wearing T-shirts in the colors of the national flag—yellow, green, and blue. Kagame received a 21-gun salute, with cheers from the crowd, and was joined by 22 African heads of state.
Rwanda's constitution was amended in 2015 to allow Kagame to extend his presidency. The two candidates who ran against him in the recent election, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana, both conceded defeat. However, rights groups have criticized the election process, citing a crackdown on media, the opposition, and civil society groups.
