Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame was sworn in for a fourth term on Sunday, having won over 99% of the vote in the recent presidential election, Al Jazeera reported. Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo administered the oath of office to Kagame, who pledged to “preserve peace and national sovereignty, consolidate national unity.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Kagame expressed his gratitude to the people of Rwanda, saying, “I can only begin by thanking all Rwandans for putting your trust and confidence in me. It is an honour to serve as your President for another term. The electoral campaign was a period of joy and satisfaction for all of us. Millions attended rallies, and almost everyone went to vote. But it isn’t just about numbers. There is a much deeper meaning behind what all of us saw and experienced. That reality is undeniable; it stems from the spirit of togetherness among Rwandans, as well as a shared determination to be the owners of our future. This is exactly what we have been working for all of these years.”

The National Electoral Commission of Rwanda confirmed that Kagame secured 99.18% of the vote, according to Al Jazeera. However, the election has been met with criticism from rights activists, who argue that Kagame’s overwhelming victory highlights a lack of democracy in the country.

Activists pointed out that only two out of eight applicants were authorised to run in the presidential race, with those who criticised Kagame being barred from participating. They also claimed that Kagame rules in an atmosphere of fear, where dissent is not tolerated, leading to arbitrary detentions, intimidation, disappearances, and killings if any dissent is reported, as per Al Jazeera's report.

In contrast, supporters of Kagame praised his leadership. Tania Iriza, a supporter of the President, told Al Jazeera, “I proudly cast my vote for President Kagame and made it a priority to be here today to witness this historic inauguration. His leadership has been transformative for our nation. Under his leadership, Rwanda has risen from our tragic past and forged a path towards prosperity, unity, and innovation.”

In the election, Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party, received 0.5% of the vote, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana garnered 0.32%, Al Jazeera reported.

Image source: Reuters