President Paul Kagame secured another five-year term with 99.18 percent of the vote in last month’s elections, pledging to strengthen national unity despite ongoing opposition criticism.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame took the oath for a fourth term following a decisive victory with over 99 percent of the vote in last month’s election. The inauguration ceremony was held at a crowded 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, attended by numerous African leaders and dignitaries, with spectators arriving early to witness the event.
Kagame took the oath of office before Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, committing to “maintain peace, safeguard national sovereignty, and enhance national unity.”
The outcome of the July 15 election was certain for Kagame, who has governed Rwanda since the 1994 genocide, first as a de facto leader and then as president.
Earning 99.18 percent of the vote, he secured another five-year term. Critics argue that the overwhelming victory underscores a persistent lack of democratic practices in Rwanda.
Of the eight applicants, only two were allowed to contest against Kagame, with several notable critics excluded from the race.
Frank Habineza, head of the Democratic Green Party, came in second with 0.5 percent of the vote, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32 percent.
Cease-Fire Talks in the DRC
Kagame is acknowledged for his role in rebuilding Rwanda following the 1994 genocide, when Hutu extremists committed widespread violence against the Tutsi minority, resulting in around 800,000 deaths, including many Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Yet, critics and human rights advocates claim his regime operates under a climate of fear, where dissent is met with intimidation, arbitrary detentions, killings, and forced disappearances.
Furthermore, Kigali is accused of contributing to instability in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Angola’s President Joao Lourenco, who was present at Sunday’s inauguration, was scheduled for private discussions with Kagame regarding a ceasefire agreement for the DRC, according to the Angolan presidency.
This deal, mediated by Luanda last month following talks between the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda, aimed to address the conflict involving the M23 rebel group, which is alleged to have supported the rebellion against Kinshasa’s forces.
However, on August 4, when the agreement was set to be implemented, M23 rebels seized a town near the Ugandan border, continuing their offensive that began late in 2021.
With 65 percent of Rwanda’s population under 30, Kagame is the only leader many Rwandans have ever known. “I proudly voted for President Kagame and made it a priority to attend this historic inauguration,” said Tania Iriza, a 27-year-old trader among the thousands who came to the event.
“His leadership has been transformative for our nation. Under his guidance, Rwanda has moved from a troubled past to a future of prosperity, unity, and innovation.”
Kagame has won every presidential election he has entered, consistently receiving over 93 percent of the vote. In 2015, he oversaw controversial constitutional changes that reduced presidential terms to five years but allowed him to potentially remain in power until 2034.