Rwanda: President Kagame announces 2024 re-election bid

On Thursday, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame officially declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.

Presenting his bid to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Kagame was accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, along with high-ranking officials from the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), including the Vice-Chairperson, Secretary-General, and RPF commissioners.

This announcement was confirmed through a post on Kagame’s verified Facebook page.

Kagame’s re-election campaign was solidified without any objections during the RPF’s congress held on March 9, 2024. Adding to his momentum, Kagame received endorsements from both the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party on March 31.

These endorsements reflect significant cross-party support, bolstering his position ahead of the election.

Having first assumed the presidency in 2000, Kagame’s potential to continue leading Rwanda for another decade comes after a constitutional amendment in 2015, which allows him to extend his tenure.

This move has set the stage for Kagame to further shape Rwanda’s future, continuing a presidency that has already spanned nearly a quarter of a century.