Rwandan President Paul Kagame has confirmed his candidacy for a fourth term in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, potentially extending his presidency to nearly three decades. In an interview with the French-language magazine Jeune Afrique, Kagame expressed satisfaction with the support he continues to receive from Rwandans.
“I am happy with the confidence that Rwandans have in me,” Kagame said, underscoring his willingness to lead as long as the people want him in office. The announcement solidifies previous hints he made about seeking re-election but is the first time he has explicitly stated his intention to run in next year’s poll, scheduled for August.
Kagame has faced significant criticism from human rights organizations that accuse his administration of suppressing opposition and curtailing free speech. In the 2017 presidential election, Kagame won by an overwhelming margin, securing nearly 99% of the vote. Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the election, arguing it took place in a repressive environment where political dissent was stifled.
In response to concerns raised by international observers and rights groups, Kagame dismissed external criticism, stating that Rwanda’s governance is a matter for its citizens alone. He questioned Western concepts of democracy, asserting that attempts to impose foreign values on Rwanda are misguided. “What these countries think is not our problem,” he said, adding, “Seeking to transplant democracy to someone else is already a violation of democracy in itself.”
Kagame first rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), the rebel group that ended the 1994 genocide. He officially assumed the presidency in 2000 following the resignation of then-president Pasteur Bizimungu. Rwanda adopted a new constitution in 2003 that limited presidents to two seven-year terms, but a controversial referendum in 2015 paved the way for Kagame to extend his rule. The constitutional amendments allowed him to run for a third seven-year term in 2017 and potentially two additional five-year terms starting in 2024.
Despite Kagame’s strong grip on power, critics argue that opposition to his government remains dangerous, with several prominent opposition figures attacked or killed while in exile. The government has denied involvement in these incidents, though Kagame has warned in the past that those who betray Rwanda will face “consequences.”
Kagame, now 65, remains a dominant figure in Rwanda’s political landscape, and his re-election bid is expected to generate significant debate both within the country and abroad. As Rwanda continues to grapple with questions about democracy and human rights, Kagame’s candidacy is likely to draw both support and criticism, as his presidency approaches three decades in power.
