Rwandan President Kagame Takes Oath for New Term

Rwandan President Paul Kagame took the oath today, Sunday, for a five-year term after achieving a landslide victory in last month's elections, extending his rule for nearly 25 years. Kagame (66 years old) won the elections held in July with 99.18% of the votes after the electoral commission barred eight other candidates, including some of his staunchest critics. Kagame has received praise from Western and regional leaders for his role in ending the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 and transforming the country into an attractive destination for investment and aid. However, his reputation has been marred by criticisms concerning human rights violations, suppression of opposition, and support for rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, allegations that Kagame denies. The oath-taking ceremony took place today in Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, attended by thousands and featuring participation from twenty-two African heads of state. The Rwandan constitution was amended in 2015, allowing Kagame to extend his rule.