Rwandan President Paul Kagame was on Friday sworn in for his
third seven-year term following his overwhelming victory in the August 4
polls.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, President
Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, were among the 20
African heads of state and government representatives at the
inauguration.
The colourful ceremony at at Amahoro
National Stadium, was celebrated with military parades and traditional
dances, and was attended by thousands of Rwandans and televised outside
the stadium and in different venues across the country.
The
Rwandan leader was sworn-in after posting a landslide win of 98.79 per
cent against his rivals Philippe Mpayimana who got 0.73 per cent of the
vote and Democratic Green Party of Rwanda’s Frank Habineza who came in
last with 0.48 per cent.
Speaking shortly after taking
the oath of office, President Kagame described the inauguration as a day
of “renewal and gratitude”, taking a potshot at critics of the
presidential polls who keep trying to impose ‘dogma’ which are not
working even in their own countries.
President Kagame
said efforts to ‘denigrate’ the electoral process a few weeks ago only
made Rwandans more defiant and determined to express themselves through
the vote.
“All along, we have had to fight to protect our right to do what
is best for us and we will without any doubt continue to do so,” he
said.
“In this regard, Rwanda is not an exception.
Every African country has to contend with efforts to force us to live on
someone else’s terms. They demand that we replace systems that are
working well for us with dogmas in which their own people are rapidly
losing faith,” he added.
The Rwandan leader and his
party Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) came under heavy criticism
before and after the polls over perceived lack of political space and
locking out credible opponents from the August 4 election.
President
Kagame, however, pointed out that, given Rwanda’s history, the country
had chosen to do things differently, opting for a consensual political
model rather than confrontation and divisive ones, which he said critics
want to impose on the country.
Buoyed by the presence
of many African leaders, the Rwanda leader, who is now poised to take
over the chairmanship of the African Union next year, used the
opportunity to advance “African ideals”, pointing out that the continent
was ready to plot its own path without being shoved around.
“Africa
has no civilisation problems — only assets,” said the president, who is
also leading efforts to reform the AU and its organs. It is important
for Rwandans and Africans to feel reassured that attacks on our
character only make us stronger, provided that we respond with clarity
and conviction”.
“Africa is on the right path and we are going to be just fine,” President Kagame added.
He
said that Africans need to do what they know is right for the people
and they will be vilified because the results are much better and the
costs much lower.
“Those who are worried of our welfare should feel at ease. We are the best students of our shortcomings,” he said.
He added that African countries need to do what is good for them because there is no single model for nation building.
The
Rwandan leader also highlighted the progress the country has made over
the past 23 years and reconstruction following the 1994 Genocide against
the Tutsi, adding that his government will do even more.
Last term
President
Kagame, who has hinted at this being his last term despite the 2015
constitutional amendment which allows him to stay in office until 2034,
said that his government will continue to empower young people,
especially ‘first time voters’.
He thanked the leaders
and members of the eight other parties which joined RPF to nominate him
as their candidate, as well as his opponents in the election. He pledged
to work together with them all.
Several political
parties, including the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party,
are expected to be rewarded with top positions in the government.
Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir who arrived in Kigali on Friday morning and
was welcomed by the Minister of Education Dr Papias Malimba Musafiri
received a rousing welcome upon arrival in the national stadium.
Also to receive a thunderous welcome was Kenya’s President Kenyatta.
Those
present included Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Edgar Lungu of
Zambia, Sassou Nguesso of Congo, Hage Geingob of Namibia, Prime Minister
Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia and Yemi Osinbajo, the acting
President of Nigeria. Others were the presidents of Gabon, Togo, Central
African Republic, Chad, Guinea, South Sudan, Djibouti and Niger.
Conspicuously missing was President John Magufuli of Tanzania and Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza.
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