President Paul Kagame was officially sworn in for his fourth term this Sunday, following a decisive victory in last month’s election, where he secured 99.18% of the vote. The inauguration took place at a packed 45,000-seat Amahoroo stadium in Kigali, drawing several dozen heads of state and dignitaries from across Africa.
Kagame took the oath of office before Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, vowing to “preserve peace and national sovereignty and consolidate national unity.
The July 15 election saw Kagame win 99.18% of the vote, according to the National Electoral Commission. Frank Habineza, leader of the Democratic Green Party, came in a distant second with just 0.5% of the vote, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32%
“For the last 30 years, our country has been good work in progress. This new mandate means the beginning of even more hard work,” President Kagame said.
“That expectation to keep improving is not a dream, it is a reality. We can do it and we will do it.”
Credited with leading Rwanda’s recovery and transformation following the genocide against the Tutsi, President Kagame has transformed the country through rapid economic growth, development, and stability.
Kagame’s political journey has been marked by overwhelming electoral victories, having won every presidential election since he assumed power, each time with over 90% of the vote. In 2015, constitutional amendments were passed to shorten presidential terms from seven to five years, while simultaneously resetting Kagame’s term limit, allowing him the possibility of ruling until 2034.
