Paul Kagame, the incumbent president of Rwanda, has secured the nomination of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for July. Kagame’s candidacy was unopposed during the RPF’s congress, which concluded on Saturday.
The election, set for July 15, will see candidates campaigning from June 22 to July 12, as outlined in the election calendar. Kagame’s endorsement by 99.1 percent of votes cast underscores the party’s support for his leadership.
Addressing supporters after his nomination, Kagame expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and acknowledged the responsibility of carrying the nation forward. This nomination marks Kagame’s fourth-term ambition, reaffirmed in September 2023.
In the previous election in August 2017, Kagame secured his current seven-year term with overwhelming support, winning 98.63% of the vote. Rwanda’s constitution was amended in 2015 to allow Kagame to seek a maximum of two five-year terms after the conclusion of his current term this year.
Despite international recognition for overseeing peace and economic growth since the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, Kagame has faced criticism from rights groups. Allegations of crackdowns on opposition voices and independent media have been leveled against the former military officer.
As Rwanda prepares for the upcoming election, Kagame’s nomination sets the stage for a closely watched political event in the nation’s democratic process.
