President William Ruto has extended his congratulations to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who was inaugurated for another term on Sunday, August 11, at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
Ruto attended the inauguration ceremony, joining other Heads of State in celebrating Kagame’s re-election.
Ruto to Kagame
Kagame secured over 99 per cent of the vote, marking his fourth term in office.
Following the event, Ruto took to his X account to express his support, emphasising the opportunity for Kagame to continue his transformative leadership in Rwanda.
“Congratulations to my brother President Paul Kagame on being sworn in for another term to continue transforming your country, Rwanda.
“In the past 30 years, the people of Rwanda have risen from the devastating ashes of the 1994 genocide, experiencing tremendous progress in political, democratic, and economic spheres. Rwanda is also a valuable member of the East African Community, the African Union, and the international community,” Ruto stated.
Kagame has been a key figure in Rwandan politics since 1994, initially focusing on military and foreign affairs, as well as national security.
He officially became president in April 2000, following his election by the Transitional National Assembly under the transitional constitution, which allowed ministers to elect the president.
Since then, Kagame‘s leadership has been characterised by significant economic development and efforts to maintain stability in the region.
However, his tenure has also faced criticism for political repression, particularly against opposition figures.
In this latest election, Kagame defeated Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, who garnered only 0.5 per cent of the vote, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, who received 0.32 per cent.
Kagame’s opponents
Eight other candidates were barred from running due to incomplete registration documents.
With this victory, Kagame’s vote share surpasses the 98.7 per cent he achieved in the 2017 election, reinforcing his dominance in Rwandan politics as he embarks on another term.
