Kagame’s Promises to Rwanda in the Fourth Term

President Paul Kagame has been sworn in for his fourth term as Rwanda’s head of state, expressing his gratitude to Rwandans for their trust and outlining his vision for the country’s future. During a grand ceremony at Amahoro Stadium, attended by tens of thousands of Rwandans and over 20 African heads of state, Kagame emphasized that Rwanda would continue to surpass expectations, saying, “If you’ve given me the opportunity, we will achieve everything we desire.”

Kagame, who won last month’s election with 99% of the vote, addressed his country, acknowledging the significant progress made over the past 30 years. He assured Rwandans that his new term would mark the beginning of even greater achievements, stating, “This new term is the beginning of achieving even more so that we can reach all that we desire.”

Kagame’s Key Commitments to Rwandans

Through the manifesto of his party, the RPF-Inkotanyi, Kagame has laid out several key goals for his 2024-2029 term:

• Water and Electricity: Ensure 100% access to clean water and electricity across the country.
• Affordable Housing: Build low-cost homes to increase access to housing in urban areas.
• Agricultural Growth: Increase agricultural output by 8% annually.
• Industrial Growth: Raise industrial production by 13% per year.
• Job Creation: Generate 250,000 new jobs annually.
• Infrastructure Development: Construct and rehabilitate around 1,100 kilometers of paved roads.
• Bugesera Airport: Complete the Bugesera International Airport project.
• Aviation School: Establish an aviation and airport management school to build local expertise.

Addressing Regional Peace and Stability

Kagame also touched on regional peace, particularly the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo. He reiterated that peace in the region remains a top priority for Rwanda but stressed that it cannot be achieved unless those directly involved take decisive action.

DR Congo’s government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which controls parts of North Kivu Province. Kagame, however, pointed out that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed, particularly the persecution of Congolese Tutsis who speak Kinyarwanda. He also thanked Presidents João Lourenço of Angola and William Ruto of Kenya for their mediation efforts in the conflict.

Kagame concluded by emphasizing that peace requires active participation from all sides, saying, “Peace doesn’t come by itself; we must all play our part and do what is necessary to achieve lasting peace.”

With a clear roadmap laid out for the next five years, Kagame’s fourth term aims to build on Rwanda’s successes while addressing both domestic development and regional stability.