Rwandan President Paul Kagame and First Woman Jeannette Kagame attend his swearing-in ceremony after a landslide victory in final month’s election at Amahoro Stadium, Gasabo District of Kigali, Rwanda August 11, 2024. | Photograph credit score: Reuters
Rwanda’s omnipotent President Paul Kagame was sworn in for a fourth time period on Sunday, saying regional peace was a “precedence” over the continued battle within the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mr Kagame received a shock victory in final month’s election with a staggering 99.18% of the vote, giving him one other 5 years in workplace.
A number of dozen heads of state and different dignitaries from African nations attended the opening ceremony in a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, the place many had been dressed within the inexperienced, yellow and blue colours of Rwanda’s nationwide flag.
The result of the July 15 election was by no means unsure for the heavy-handed Mr Paul Kagame, who has dominated the tiny African nation for the reason that 1994 genocide, each as de facto chief after which as president.
Human rights activists mentioned the 66-year-old’s landslide victory was a stark reminder of Rwanda’s oppressive regime, with solely two candidates allowed to run in opposition to him and a number of other distinguished critics barred.
Kigali can be accused of fomenting instability within the mineral-rich japanese Democratic Republic of Congo, its a lot bigger neighbour, by backing M23 rebels preventing Kinshasa’s armed forces.
“Peace in our area is a precedence for Rwanda, nevertheless it has been missing, notably in japanese Democratic Republic of Congo,” Kagame mentioned in his opening remarks.
“However peace can’t be achieved by anybody or from anyplace, nevertheless {powerful}, if essentially the most affected get together doesn’t do what is important,” he mentioned in an obvious assault on Kinshasa.
“Angolan President Joao Lourenco, amongst these attending Sunday’s ceremony, was scheduled to carry personal talks with Mr Kagame on a ceasefire settlement within the Democratic Republic of Congo reached final month,” the Angolan presidency mentioned.
Luanda (the capital of Angola) negotiated the settlement after a gathering between the international ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
However on August 4, the day the ceasefire was supposed to enter impact, M23 rebels, who’ve seized territory within the east since launching a brand new offensive in late 2021, captured a city on the border with Uganda.
A current report by UN consultants mentioned between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troopers had been preventing alongside M23 and that Kigali had “de facto management” of the group’s operations.
Questioned repeatedly on this topic, Mr. Kagame has not explicitly denied the presence of Rwandan forces within the Democratic Republic of Congo, however has pointed to the “persecution” of the Tutsi minority and the chance of instability on the Rwandan border.
– ‘Local weather of concern’ –
Mr. Kagame is credited with rebuilding a nation in ruins after the genocide, when Hutu extremists unleashed 100 days of bloody preventing in opposition to the Tutsi minority, killing an estimated 800,000 folks, primarily Tutsis but in addition reasonable Hutus.
However human rights activists and opponents say Kagame guidelines in a local weather of concern, crushing any dissent with intimidation, arbitrary arrests, killings and enforced disappearances. With 65% of the inhabitants underneath 30, Kagame is the one chief most Rwandans have ever recognized.
“I’m proud to have voted for President Kagame and I’ve made it my mission to be right here as we speak to witness this historic inauguration,” mentioned Tania Iriza, a 27-year-old shopkeeper, certainly one of tens of 1000’s of people that turned out for the ceremony. “His management has been transformative for our nation. Below his management, Rwanda has overcome our tragic previous and cast a path to prosperity, unity and innovation.”
Mr Kagame has received each presidential election he has contested, all the time with greater than 93% of the vote.
In 2015, he oversaw controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential phrases from seven to 5 years however reset the clock for the Rwandan chief, probably permitting him to rule till 2034.
