Rwanda's President Paul Kagame was sworn into office on Sunday for another five-year term, following a near-total victory in last month's election that extends his leadership nearly 25 years in office. The former rebel leader, now 66, secured 99.18% of the vote despite the electoral commission barring eight other candidates, including his fiercest critics.
Kagame has garnered accolades from Western and regional leaders for his role in ending the 1994 genocide and making Rwanda an attractive destination for investment and aid. However, his tenure is stained by accusations of human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and support for rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo—allegations he has consistently denied. “For the last 30 years, our country has been a good work in progress. This new mandate means the beginning of even more hard work,” Kagame stated.
During Sunday's swearing-in ceremony at Kigali's Amahoro National Stadium, thousands of attendees, many wearing T-shirts in the colors of the national flag, witnessed Kagame receiving a military 21-gun salute. The event was attended by 22 heads of state from across Africa. The country's 2015 constitutional change allowed Kagame to extend his term. The recent election was contested by Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, both of whom conceded defeat amid critiques from rights groups about media and opposition crackdowns. A government spokesperson rejected these criticisms. (Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Kagame's Renewed Mandate Amid Allegations of Rights Abuses
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