For the first time, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has declared his intention to run for a fourth term in the upcoming elections scheduled for next year. Kagame, who has governed the country with an iron grip for decades, made this announcement in an interview with the French-speaking magazine “Jeune Afrique” published online on Tuesday.
In the interview, the 65-year-old president stated, “Yes, I am a candidate.” He further expressed his contentment with the confidence Rwandans have placed in him, emphasizing his commitment to serving them continuously, as long as that is where he is meant to be.
It’s worth noting that the Rwandan government decided to hold parliamentary and presidential elections concurrently, scheduled for August next year. While Kagame had not previously clarified his intentions, he oversaw controversial constitutional amendments that allowed him to stay in office for a third term. Kagame has been the de facto leader of the country since the 1994 genocide, and in 2017, he won a third term with nearly 99% of the votes.