Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a statement released Sunday, July 14, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified Crooks as a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of Butler, where Trump was holding his rally.

Crooks is reported to have opened fire from a nearby building rooftop, causing panic in the crowd. Photos and videos that went viral on social media moments after the shooting showed Trump holding his bloodied ear before dropping to the ground, where Secret Service agents helped him take cover.

Trump was rushed off stage, but not before boldly pumping his fist into the air and twice telling the crowd to “fight!” He was then taken by car to a hospital in the Pittsburgh area.

Later, he posted on social media that he had been hit by a bullet in the upper part of his ear.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump’s campaigners said the Republican was doing “fine” after the shooting.

Authorities have since confirmed that one person was killed and two others were left in critical condition after the shooting.

Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents at the scene and the FBI has promised investigations into the shocking incident.

Media reports indicate that Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.

Preliminary investigations show that he was registered to vote as a Republican, according to a listing in Pennsylvania’s voter database that matched his name, age, and a Bethel Park address.

This year’s presidential election would have been his first voting.

President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in the forthcoming polls, condemned the shooting incident, adding that he was grateful Trump is “safe and doing well.”

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” Biden said in a statement.

Trump, a member of the Republican Party, is running for a second, non-consecutive term in the November 5, 2024, general election after losing to Biden in the 2020 polls.

Polling in the diaspora was conducted at 160 stations in 70 countries, including 44 embassies.

A total of 77,138 voters in the diaspora, comprising 41,243 males and 35,895 females, had registered to vote in this year’s general election, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). By press time, many had already turned up to cast their votes.

Overall, 9,071,157 Rwandans, including 4.2 million males and 4,845,417 females, are eligible to vote in this year’s general election.

Rwandans living in Saudi Arabia turned out in large numbers at the Embassy of Rwanda in Riyadh to cast their votes. Embassy officials said the Rwandans “were excited to exercise their civic right in voting for leaders of their choice.”

By 7 am (Rwandan time), Rwandans in Belgium and Luxembourg mobilized in large numbers to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Twenty-six-year-old Mike Ntasinzira could not hide his excitement to vote for the first time. He said, “We didn’t engage in politics a lot back home, but in recent years, I have become closer to the community and got interested in learning more about my country.”

In Gothenburg, Sweden, voting was a family affair as children escorted their parents to the polling stations.

“I am a first-time voter and I am super excited. It has been raining, but today I feel blessed and really happy to contribute in choosing the good leaders of our country and our future,” said 25-year-old Sonya Isimbi.

Long queues were also witnessed at Rwandan embassies in Kampala, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, and Rabat in Morocco, as citizens came out to exercise their civic rights.

In Germany, voting took place in Berlin and Kaiserslautern, where enthusiastic Rwandans turned out to make their choices count in this year’s polls.

Like other Rwandans living in the Central African Republic, members of Rwanda’s security forces who are in the country on a mission to restore peace were elated to also participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The diaspora was the first group to vote in the general election. Locals are scheduled to vote for the President and Members of the house (Chamber of Deputies) on Monday, July 15 2024.

On July 16, 24 female Members of Parliament, two youth representatives, and one representative of people living with disabilities will be elected by special electoral colleges across the country.

Three candidates are vying for the Presidency in Rwanda in this year’s polls.
They are independent Candidate Philippe Mpayimana, Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Paul Kagame, the incumbent president and flag bearer of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi.

Addressing journalists on Saturday, July 13 2024 after his last campaign rally, the RPF Inkotanyi presidential candidate noted that his administration has efficiently used every penny of the country’s limited resources towards development in all sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture.

“We have made progress because we have concentrated on the real issues that matter to the people—that is, the people themselves. We have concentrated on what matters to them and what improves their lives. We have deployed every penny of our limited resources to just do that, whether it is in the area of education, health, infrastructure, or agriculture. There is self-food sufficiency,” President Kagame stated.

He emphasized that his administration had put in place elaborate mechanisms to prevent the wastage and theft of public funds, unlike many other countries where corruption is rampant.

“In many places, it (money) is stolen from the treasury; by the time it is supposed to be used, maybe half of it is pocketed by some individuals. So it gets lost through various means.

“We make sure we fight corruption alongside everything else we are doing. And we are committed to doing it, and we are not apologetic about ensuring that we hold ourselves accountable. That is important.”

He pledged to continue the RPF administration’s development agenda if re-elected in the Monday polls by prioritising the security and economic stability of the country.

During the last day of the campaign, the RPF flag bearer implored the electorate to strive with a singular mission to continue the country’s development agenda without being distracted by naysayers.

“I encourage and assure you that you shall be what you want to be, not how others want you to be. Ignore their ill-fated words because they don’t kill. Poverty kills, insecurity kills, ignorance kills but words don’t kill,” he said.

“As the government, we have made the right priorities by concentrating on what matters most to the people. Your large numbers here today are testimony to this. I have seen throughout the campaigns that you are a people living for a purpose,” he added.

The Head of State had back in April indicated that Rwanda will be five times better if the current momentum of social and economic development is maintained.

President Kagame said that the country had defied the odds to record tremendous growth over the last 30 years, when the country was derailed by the Genocide against the Tutsi.

“In the next 30 years we will continue making progress and be where others are even though some of them take it for granted. We see developed countries, why can’t Rwanda or Africa develop to that level or even beyond,” Kagame reasoned.

He highlighted that with the right politics in the country and the region, Rwanda will be far much better than its current state.

“The Rwanda of the next 30 years should maybe be three, four, or five times better than what you are seeing now. The next three decades should bring even more development because we are not coming from the grave; this time we are coming from some level of progress,” he added.

The campaigns have showcased several unique and notable characteristics that reflect the country’s political culture, democratic maturity, and commitment to development.

Overall, this season has provided a platform of diverse voices and visions for Rwanda’s future, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and participatory governance.

Now that the campaign season has come to an end, the focus has shifted to ensuring a peaceful and transparent election, setting the stage for Rwanda’s next chapter in governance and development.

As Rwandans look forward to a decisive election that will shape the trajectory of the nation, some key aspects and events have stood out.

There has been diverse political participation by various political parties, including the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), Social Democratic Party (PSD), and Liberal Party (PL) where each of them presented distinct platforms and visions for Rwanda’s future.

Generally, the campaigns heavily emphasized ongoing and planned infrastructure projects, such as road construction, energy provision, and technological advancements. Candidates highlighted their commitment to continuing Rwanda’s rapid development trajectory.

On the last day, Paul Kagame, the RPF-Inkotanyi flag bearer implored the electorate to strive with a singular mission to mainly continue the country’s development agenda without getting bothered by what other people say.

“I encourage and assure you that you shall be what you want to be, not how others want you to be. Ignore their ill-fated words because they don’t kill. Poverty kills, insecurity kills, ignorance kills but words don’t kill,” he said.

“As the government, we have made the right priorities by concentrating on what matters most to the people. Your large numbers here today are testimony to this. I have seen throughout the campaigns that you are a people living for a purpose,” he added.

RPF, known for its significant role in ending the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, held its last campaign rally at Gahanga in Kicukiro district.

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda is the main opposition party.

Throughout the campaign, its flag bearer and presidential hopeful Dr Frank Habineza, focused on promoting environmental sustainability, social justice, and several other political reforms

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Liberal Party (PL) joined six other parties to form a coalition and support the RPF candidate for the position of President.

However, in a bid to vie for parliamentary positions, both parties campaigned on platforms of economic growth, social equity, and enhanced democratic practices.

On July 13, 2024, when the official campaigns ended, Dr Vincent Biruta, the leader of PSD said that the decision to support RPF was taken after consultative discussions with the electorate.

“Our position to support RPF was informed by Rwandans who have shown us that they love their president, we also have to accept and support their choice. We are confident that we shall win together,” he said.

Kagame narrated that while still living in exile, he regularly visited Rwanda and it was on one such visits that he came face to face with a scary military guard but managed to pull off a narrow escape by pretending to read a book on the street.

“I occasionally visited Rwanda to check on some relatives. I think it was three times; in 1977, 1978 and 1979. My relative Claver Muyango, a former Director General at the Ministry of Health who used to live in Kiyovu hosted me,” he recalled.

One day he went for a walk in the neighborhood and met a soldier who continuously called him out but Kagame pretended to read a book he was holding and ignored the soldier’s signals.

“The more he called me, the more I pretended to concentrate on the book until he started walking towards me. When he got close to me, I was a bit afraid and ran away sneaking through the neighbouring houses until I reached home. I even never told the people at home what had happened,” he said

The Head of State was speaking on his second last day of the presidential campaign in Bumbogo Sector, Gasabo District where he thanked the residents for their hard work and efforts in the collective development of the country.

“I have not come to ask you for votes, I have just come to thank you for your unwavering support and participation in the achievements we have registered so far,” he told the supporters.

He spoke strongly against the discrimination exhibited by previous regimes that condemned its nationals (even those who were in the country) to live as refugees.

Kagame castigated critics who trade the narrative that having peaceful campaigns and elections is an indicator of a lack of democracy.

“In other countries, there is usually chaos and fighting during such times of campaigns. Even in this here people would display hate to the extent of killing each. And that’s what the call democracy?” he wondered.

During the campaign, several people praised RPF for its leading role in ensuring the forward trajectory of the country’s development agenda.

Two of the speakers who shared their thoughts include Dr Yvan Butera and Irere Claudette the State Ministers of Health and Education respectively. They are proud to call themselves the PK generation.

As the campaigns draw closer to the end, the RPF candidate will visit the people of Gahanga in Kicukiro district tomorrow July 13, 2024.

The general elections are slated for Monday, July 15, 2024.

Ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda and Burundi are expected to meet soon to further discuss issues concerning bilateral diplomatic relations but they say there is no need for a mediator. Both Governments are determined to resolve their disputes amicably.

A recently concluded retreat which brought together Ministers from eight East African Community (EAC) member states adopted a resolution to have this meeting but representatives from both countries say an agreement was reached even before the retreat occurred.

In an interview with IGIHE, Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe explained that before the retreat began, his team had met with Burundi counterpart Albert Shingiro and agreed that both Governments would discuss and resolve the issue themselves.

“We didn’t even extensively discuss the issue between Rwanda and Burundi at the meeting because before it started, we spoke with Minister Albert Shingiro, and agreed that our countries would discuss our issues directly, without needing a mediator, as both countries share the same language and culture. We agreed to meet soon to resolve these issues,” he said.

According to Nduhungirehe, the meeting prior to the retreat was held on July 6, 2024, and it was also attended by Minister of State in charge of Regional Cooperation, Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe.

Minister Nduhungirehe explained that the decision for representatives of the two countries to meet was communicated to the other ministers attending the retreat, who then agreed it would take place before October 31, 2024, as announced by the office of the EAC Secretary-General.

The principle of representatives from conflicting countries meeting is one of the EAC’s foundational practices. Member countries have agreed that if there is a dispute, they will sit down and peacefully discuss ways to resolve it.

Relations between Rwanda and Burundi deteriorated in December 2023, when RED Tabara, an armed group operating in Burundi launched attacks in the Gatumba zone, located in Bujumbura Rural Province.

Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, told the press that Rwanda was suspected to be behind the actions of the armed group and that its leaders were based in Kigali.

The Rwandan government vehemently denied these accusations, clarifying that it does not collaborate with any group opposing the government of its neighbouring country.

In January 2024, the Burundian government closed all land borders with Rwanda, stating that they would reopen them once those who attempted to overthrow former president Pierre Nkurunziza’s government in 2015 were sent to Bujumbura.

In February 2024, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the Chairperson of the EAC, visited Rwanda and Burundi to try and mediate between both sides, aiming to find an amicable solution to the conflict.