In a recent revelation, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has officially declared his candidacy for a fourth term in the upcoming 2024 elections. The announcement came during an interview with Jeune Afrique, a prominent French-language news magazine.
President Kagame, who has maintained a firm grip on the country for an extended period, expressed gratitude for the trust Rwandans have placed in him. He affirmed his commitment to serve the nation as long as he can.
Notably, the Rwandan government made the decision to synchronize the dates for both parliamentary and presidential elections which are set to take place in August next year.
Kagame's intentions regarding a fourth term had been ambiguous until now. In 2015, his administration oversaw controversial constitutional amendments that allowed for the possibility of him running for more terms, potentially extending his rule until 2034.
Kagame's political journey began in 2000 when he assumed the presidency, although he had effectively been the country's leader since the conclusion of the tragic 1994 genocide. He has secured victories in previous elections, consistently receiving over 90 percent of the vote, in the years 2003, 2010, and 2017.
While Rwanda is often regarded as one of the most stable countries in Africa, human rights organizations have accused Kagame's regime of governing in an environment characterized by fear and the suppression of dissent and freedom of speech.
An illustrative case is that of Paul Rusesabagina, known as the "Hotel Rwanda" hero, who had been a vocal critic of Kagame. In 2021, Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in prison on terrorism charges. His arrest, which took place the previous year, raised international attention as he believed he was being flown to Burundi but ended up in Kigali, a situation his family described as a kidnapping.
Rusesabagina was released from incarceration in March this year and was flown to the United States following a presidential pardon. In July, he released a video message stating that Rwandans were "prisoners in their own country."
The press freedom situation in Rwanda has also drawn scrutiny. According to the 2023 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, the country ranks 131 out of 180 countries.
Kagame's ascent to power in 2000 marked a turning point in Rwanda's history when his Rwandan Patriotic Front party ousted Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 genocide, during which approximately 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi but also moderate Hutus, lost their lives between April and July 1994.
