KIGALI: The newly elected President of Rwanda Paul Kagame sworn into office on Sunday for a five-year term.
The 66-year-old leader won the July elections poll with 99.18 percent of the vote. Kagame won acclaim from Western and regional leaders for helping to end the 1994 genocide and turning Rwanda into an attractive investment and aid destination.
However, his reputation has been damaged by criticism of rights abuses and suppression of dissent supporting rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has denied all the accusations.
The swearing-in took place at Kigali’s Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday with thousands in attendance, many wearing T-shirts in the blue, green and yellow colours of the national flag.
Kagame was given a military 21-gun salute, accompanied by cheers from the crowd. Twenty-two heads of state from African countries were also present on the occasion.
Rwanda’s constitution was amended in 2015, allowing Kagame to extend his tenure in office.
The two men who contested the election against him last month, Frank Habineza from the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana, both conceded defeat which rights groups say was marred by a crackdown on opposition, media and civil society groups.
