KIGALI: Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame reaffirmed his country’s commitment to democracy as campaigning commenced Saturday for the upcoming July 15 presidential election.
Kagame, who has held a firm grip on power for 24 years, is widely anticipated to continue his leadership in the Great Lakes nation.
A total of nine million Rwandans will participate in the election to be held concurrently with legislative elections, marking a significant milestone in the country’s political landscape.
Kagame has been ruling Rwanda since the end of the 1994 genocide, during which around 800,000, mostly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, were killed.
The 66-year-old assumed the presidency in 2000 and will once again face same opponents in the election as he did in 201. Frank Habineza, leader of the opposition Democratic Green Party, and Philippe Mpayimana, a former journalist running as an independent candidate.
The Rwandan courts recently rejected appeals from prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire to overturn previous convictions that had prevented them from contesting the election.
Furthermore, Kagame critic Diane Rwigara was barred from running by the election commission, citing failure to provide a criminal record statement and insufficient supporting signatures from citizens.
Speaking at a rally attended by numerous supporters transported to the venue by bus, Kagame addressed concerns about democracy in Rwanda. He emphasized his government’s interpretation of democracy as the freedom to choose what is best for oneself and what one desires.
“Democracy means choice, choosing what is good for you and what you want,” Kagame declared to an enthusiastic crowd in Musanze. “Nothing is better than being Rwandan, but even better, nothing is better than being your leader… I came here to thank you, not to ask for your votes.”
