Rwandan President Paul Kagame has officially begun his fourth term in office after securing a resounding victory in last month’s election, winning more than 99 percent of the vote. The inauguration ceremony took place on Sunday at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, which was packed with 45,000 supporters and attended by several dozen heads of state and dignitaries from across Africa.
Kagame, 66, took the oath of office before Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, pledging to “preserve peace and national sovereignty, consolidate national unity.” The ceremony marked the continuation of Kagame’s rule over Rwanda, which began in 1994 when he became the de facto leader following the country’s genocide. He has since maintained his grip on power, officially becoming president in 2000.
The outcome of the July 15 election was widely expected, with Kagame securing 99.18 percent of the ballots, according to the National Electoral Commission. Frank Habineza, leader of the Democratic Green Party, garnered 0.5 percent of the vote, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32 percent.
Despite the controversy surrounding the election, Kagame remains a popular figure in Rwanda, credited with stabilizing the country and driving economic growth following the 1994 genocide.
- Tags: Presidency, President Paul Kagame, Rwanda
