By John Ikani
Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, has confirmed his candidacy for a fourth term in the upcoming presidential election next year. Speaking to the French-language magazine Jeune Afrique, he stated, “Yes, I am indeed a candidate.”
When questioned about how the West might perceive his decision to run again, Kagame responded, “I’m sorry for the West, but what the West thinks is not my problem.” He expressed his satisfaction with the trust Rwandans have in him and his commitment to serving them.
Interestingly, Kagame had playfully mentioned in April his anticipation of retirement and passing on leadership after 23 years in office. Nonetheless, the ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), reaffirmed Kagame as its chairman in April, a position he has held since 1998.
Kagame has held the presidency of Rwanda since 2000. A contentious referendum in 2015 eliminated the two-term constitutional limit for presidents. In the last election in 2017, Kagame secured a remarkable 98.8% of the vote.
During Kagame’s tenure, Rwanda has experienced a degree of political stability. However, critics and human rights organizations have raised concerns, accusing the government of curbing political freedoms and suppressing dissent.
