President Paul Kagame secures himself one other 5 years in energy, pledging to ‘consolidate nationwide unity’ amid criticism from opposition.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been sworn in for a fourth time period after sweeping to victory in an election final month with greater than 99 p.c of the vote.
A number of dozen heads of state and different dignitaries from African nations attended the inauguration ceremony on Sunday at a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, the place crowds had began gathering from the early morning.
Kagame took the oath of workplace earlier than Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, pledging to “protect peace and nationwide sovereignty, consolidate nationwide unity”.
The outcome of the July 15 poll was by no means doubtful for Kagame, who has dominated the small African nation since its 1994 genocide, first as de facto chief after which president.
He gained 99.18 p.c of the ballots forged to safe one other 5 years in energy, in response to the Nationwide Electoral Fee.
Rights activists mentioned the 66-year-old’s overwhelming victory was a stark reminder of the dearth of democracy in Rwanda.
Solely two candidates have been authorised to run in opposition to him out of eight candidates with a number of distinguished Kagame critics barred.
Democratic Inexperienced Celebration chief Frank Habineza scraped into second place with 0.5 p.c of the votes in opposition to 0.32 p.c for unbiased Philippe Mpayimana.
DRC ceasefire talks
Kagame is credited with rebuilding a ruined nation after the genocide when members of the Hutu majority unleashed 100 days of assaults concentrating on the Tutsi minority, killing about 800,000 people, primarily Tutsis but additionally Hutu moderates.
However rights activists and opponents have mentioned Kagame guidelines in a local weather of worry, crushing any dissent with intimidation, arbitrary detentions, killings and disappearances.
Kigali can also be accused of stoking instability within the east of its a lot bigger neighbour the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who was amongst these attending Sunday’s ceremony, was resulting from have personal talks with Kagame on a DRC ceasefire, the Angolan presidency mentioned.
Luanda brokered the settlement final month after a gathering between the international ministers of the DRC and Rwanda, which is accused of backing the M23 rebel group preventing Kinshasa’s armed forces.
However on August 4, the day the deal was purported to take impact, M23 rebels – who’ve seized territory within the east since launching a brand new offensive on the finish of 2021 – captured a city on the border with Uganda.
With 65 p.c of the inhabitants aged underneath 30, Kagame is the one chief most Rwandans have ever identified.
“I proudly forged my vote for President Kagame and made it a precedence to be right here at this time to witness this historic inauguration,” mentioned Tania Iriza, a 27-year-old dealer, one of many tens of 1000’s of Rwandans who turned out for the ceremony.
“His management has been transformative for our nation. Below his management, Rwanda has risen from our tragic previous and cast a path in direction of prosperity, unity and innovation.”
Kagame has gained each presidential election he has contested, every time with greater than 93 p.c of the vote.
In 2015, he oversaw constitutional amendments that shortened presidential phrases to 5 years from seven however reset the clock for the Rwandan chief, permitting him to probably rule till 2034.
