Category: Politics

“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He noted that he will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about his decision.

In another post, Biden said he wants to offer his full support and endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the nominee of the Democratic Party this year. “Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he said.

Biden’s announcement, which ended weeks of speculation over his decision, came after reports emerged that a growing number of Democrats had urged him to step down, including prominent figures such as former U.S. President Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

A sitting U.S. president and presumptive nominee has never dropped out of the race this late in the election process before. Biden’s decision highlights the gravity of the crisis his campaign faced following the debate against former President Donald Trump, who formally accepted the Republican nomination on Thursday.

In the weeks following the debate, the president attempted to push back, asserting his commitment to remain in the race through various public appearances and meetings with Democratic officials. Even on Saturday, he said on X that it’s the most important election of Americans’ lifetimes, and “I will win it.”

According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll averages, Trump leads Biden in all the key battleground states, including key swing state Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

This government faced the enormous task of rebuilding a nation devastated over the preceding three months, with international experts doubting its ability to recover.

The Government of National Unity comprised 17 ministers: eight from the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), three from the Democratic Republican Movement (MDR), three from the Liberal Party (PL), two from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), and one from the Christian Democratic Party (PDC). Fourteen ministers were sworn in on July 19, with the remaining three joining the next day.

This Government was established based on the Arusha Accords of 1993. Pasteur Bizimungu became President, Paul Kagame served as Vice President and Minister of Defense, while Faustin Twagiramungu was appointed Prime Minister.

At the time, Kagame as Vice President and Minister of Defense cautioned, on the long journey ahead for Rwandans, urging them to work together rather than becoming contented with what had been achieved.

He stated, “Given where we come from and where we are headed, no one should claim that we have completed our mission and sit back thinking all problems are solved. It is time work together as we did in the past, which brought us to where we are today, enabling us to form a government worth leading the country towards development.”

Initially, they faced challenges, with some members like Faustin Twagiramungu and Jean Marie Vianney Ndagijimana leaving early on.

However, the remaining members worked together to restore security and rebuild national unity. Unity and reconciliation became the primary goals. Initiatives were made to promote coexistence among Rwandans and restore trust within the community. Citizens returned from exile, resettling in their homeland and continuing to live peacefully.

Tito Rutaremara, veteran politician and Chairperson of Rwanda Elders’ Advisory Forum, recently told IGIHE that the first goal was to establish security.

“The first priority was to ensure security because the interim government faced threats from Ex-FAR soldiers and Interahamwe militia who had fled to, Tanzania, and Burundi, but mainly to Zaire with their weapons aided by the French,” he said.

With plans to return and overthrow the government, Rutaremara says that people like Bikindi boasted of how the country would be occupied temporarily and then later handover the country back to him and his fellow Genocidaires
But as fate would have it, security was maintained, insurgent groups aiming to reignite genocide were defeated, and refugees returned from abroad.

This was followed by building unity based on restorative justice. These efforts were grounded in discussions held at Urugwiro Village in 1998-1999, which brought together people from all sectors of society to collaboratively create a vision for Rwanda’s development.

Another priority at that moment was promoting democracy, culminating in the 2003 Constitution, which was preceded by reforms in local governance.

Subsequent elections for the president, parliamentarians, and senators were held, leading to the establishment of democratic institutions. These advancements helped the nation rebuild and achieve sustainable development.

The impact of the Government of National Unity is evident 30 years later in areas such as education, health, social welfare, the economy, and infrastructure aimed at development, as well as in national unity.

The recent Rwanda Reconciliation Barometer 2020 revealed that the unity and reconciliation index had reached 94.7%.

Mbabazi will simultaneously hold the position of Rwanda’s Ambassador to Ghana, where she is already based.

Expressing her delight as she assumed the new role, she posted on X “It was an honour to present Letters of Credence to H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, as Rwanda’s Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to Liberia, resident in Accra.”

Before her appointment as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Ghana, Mbabazi served as the Minister of Youth and Culture as well as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The new ambassador is expected to bolster Rwanda and Liberia’s good relations in various areas, particularly in political collaboration between the legislative bodies of both countries and in education, where higher education institutions undertake student exchange programs.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Ambassador Fatou Harerimana presented her credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, becoming Rwanda’s first High Commissioner to Pakistan.

Through a newly established Rwandan embassy in Pakistan, Harerimana is expected to enhance cooperation in security, trade, health, and education between the two countries.

Odinga re-affirmed his position on the sustained pressure demanding for Ruto’s resignation during a meeting with Members of Parliament from his ODM Party on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

The former Prime Minister said that hounding President Ruto out of office would be useless as it would mean Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua assuming power and continue with the same policies.

Odinga reasoned that forcing Ruto out would even possibly worsen the situation, plunging the country into turmoil if the military was for example allowed to take over, a replica of what befell Egypt a few years ago.

“It’s at times of crisis like this that a country needs to talk. We are not doing it to save Ruto. We are doing it to save Kenya. Generals don’t have teargas. They don’t have water cannons. They have bullets,” he pointed out.

Odinga’s firm stance on the ongoing protests demanding Ruto’s resignation comes amid reports of growing rift among high-ranking officials in his coalition including former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and former Justice Minister Martha Karua.

Musyoka and Karua appear to harbour a hard-line position on increasing calls for President Ruto to exit office, insisting that the Head of State had failed to address the plight of Kenyans including the high cost of living that has pushed the prices of basic commodities through the roof.

The rift in the opposition coalition became apparent when rowdy youths forced Musyoka to cut short his speech during the ODM Parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday.

Musyoka’s address was disrupted shortly after he began reading a statement deemed to contradict Odinga’s position on the ongoing protests. Odinga had excused himself to attend to other engagements.

Later senior members of Odinga’s ODM party accused Musyoka of trying to paint Odinga as a traitor while simultaneously collaborating with Ruto’s deputy to undermine the Head of State.

“We must identify what works for us as ODM. We are the bigger party in Azimio and we cannot be bullied,” Hassan Joho, a former governor and high-ranking official in the ODM party stated.

John Mbadi, the national chairperson of the Odinga party, also fired at Kalonzo, saying some of the opposition coalition partners were being dishonest.

“This country must talk. Our partners in Azimio are dishonest. We have children and we have a country to save for them,” Mbadi said.

Odinga, who commands a huge following in Kenyan politics, is gunning for the position of chairperson of the African Union Commission after five unsuccessful attempts at the presidency.

His calls for dialogue to resolve the standoff between the young people and the government are seen by critics as self-centred, given his hard stance against Ruto’s administration in the past.

The Kenyan government has already endorsed Odinga’s attempt for the continental job at AU and is expected to lobby support for him ahead of elections scheduled for February 2025.

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There are growing concerns over the youth-led protests in Kenya, which turned violent in recent weeks, with the government insisting that what were otherwise peaceful demonstrations were infiltrated by goons keen to cause mayhem.

According to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), the protests have so far claimed 50 lives. At least 20 of the victims were shot dead when angry protesters stormed Parliament buildings in Nairobi shortly after the passing of the Finance Bill on June 25 2024.

The protests forced President Ruto to make several changes in his modus operandi including the withdrawal of the controversial bill and recently firing his entire Cabinet.

President Ruto also scrapped the operational budgets for the Office of the First Lady and that of the Deputy President’s wife.

However, despite these changes, Kenyans returned to the streets on Tuesday, demanding for the President’s resignation.

His closest rival, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, managed only 0.50 per cent of the vote, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana trailed with 0.32 per cent.

While releasing the results on Thursday, July 18, NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa said that RPF and its coalition allies secured majority votes (68.83 per cent) in the July 15 parliamentary general elections.

The Liberal Party (PL) secured 8.66 per cent of the votes, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) got 8.62 per cent while the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda got 4.56 per cent of the total votes.

The Ideal Democratic Party (PDI) and PS-Imberakuri secured 4.61 per cent 4.51 per cent respectively.

Janvier Nsengimana, the only contestant who ran as an independent got only 0.21 per cent of the total votes.

The national constitution specifies that a candidate or political party which fails to get at least 5 per cent of the vote is not eligible to get a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.

According to David Maraga, the head of the East African Community (EAC) election observation team dispatched to Rwanda, the election was one of the best-organized electoral processes he has seen. However, such a remark is not enough to put an end to debates about whether the elections were free and fair.

For some, the election results reflect the popularity of Kagame and the RPF, as demonstrated by the massive turnout at the presidential campaign rallies. For others, it is yet another sign that the 2024 elections were merely a formality.

A presidential candidate winning 99% of the votes is an unusual occurrence, but what is unusual isn’t necessarily bad. The natural reaction to these results should be to ask why Paul Kagame remains such a popular figure in Rwanda even after two decades in power. No matter where you look for the answer, one thing must be acknowledged: Paul Kagame holds an unchallenged position in Rwanda’s post-1994 politics. Rwandans view Kagame as the architect of Rwanda’s development, and a future without him is one many are not ready to imagine, let alone embrace.

Unfortunately, the world shows little interest in hearing what Rwandans, especially young Rwandans, have to say about their views on Rwanda’s politics. Time and again, international critics have shown an unwillingness to accept that the Rwandan people are rational thinkers with agency, and hence, their choices are not taken seriously.

Discussing Rwandan politics as simply undemocratic or dictatorial is too simplistic. It is not that Rwanda doesn’t aspire to democracy, but that democracy is not in any way an end in itself. Rwanda is a country where politics was once a matter of life and death. Present-day Rwanda is one that many could not have even dreamed of 30 years ago. For that reason, Rwandans think and act within a historical context, not just in abstract concepts or theoretical frameworks.

Rwandans, like any people in the world, have the ultimate wish to live in peace, have security, and improve their living standards. To them, meaningful politics and voting are those that allow them to maintain what they have achieved over the last 30 years and hope for even better living conditions.

Otto von Bismarck’s saying that “politics is the art of the possible” captures the essence of Rwanda’s politics in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. While many thought Rwanda would forever remain a failed state, the RPF managed to start from scratch and build a country with a new unifying identity for all Rwandans.

Rwandans have tested and approved of Paul Kagame’s leadership. While the world is more concerned about when Kagame will step down, the majority of Rwandans want to continue living under the stability of his leadership. The unknowns of new leadership are not attractive to them. Dismissing them for not thinking beyond Kagame or belittling their choice using lofty terms like democracy is unfair.

As for Rwanda’s future, no one can be certain. But one thing is sure: Rwandans are far more united than they were decades ago. If they could rebuild their country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, they will not fail to continue along that path now that they are more united and share a vision of a more prosperous Rwanda.

About the author:
Claudine Ukubereyimfura
Learning Coach at the African Leadership University
BA in International Studies from Yonsei University
MA in China Studies (Politics and International Relations) from Yenching Academy of Peking University

In a statement released on Wednesday July 17, 2024, the RPF expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support shown by Rwandans in the elections.

“It is yet another testament of the trust and confidence placed in our leadership and vision for Rwanda. We remain committed to working for national unity, sustainable development, and prosperity for all Rwandans,” reads the statement.

While waiting for the final results to be announced, RPF thanked all Rwandans and all friends of Rwanda for their support.

Rwandans went to the polls on July 14, 2024 (for the diaspora) and locally the elections were held on July 15 with special interest groups being voted for on July 16, 2024.

Partial results released put RPF-Inkotanyi candidate Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.15% followed Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana with 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.

The Foundation was forced into the raging debate about governance issues in Kenya early this week after President William Ruto claimed that proceeds from the foundation were being used to sponsor the protests.

Ruto had earlier challenged the Ford Foundation to explain the purpose of the money the foundation was giving to Kenyans threatening to throw them out of the country if nothing changed.

In a twist of events, the Foundation has strongly denied Ruto’s claims, stating that the organisation does not condone violence.

“While we acknowledge the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, we repudiate any actions or speeches that are hateful or advocate for violence against any institution, individual, or community. We did not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grant making,” the Ford Foundation said in a statement.

The Foundation has a long history of supporting social justice initiatives globally, including in Kenya, a mission it is vehemently committed to.

“As we noted during the Kenyan state visit to the United States this past May, we are committed to building on the legacy of the Ford Foundation’s more than 60 years in the region so that Kenyans can unlock opportunities that extend to all,” the organisation added.

{{Deadly protests
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The protests in Kenya have so far claimed 50 lives according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC). At least 20 of the victims were shot dead when angry protesters stormed Parliament buildings in Nairobi shortly after the passing of the Finance Bill 2024 on June 25.

The protests forced Ruto to make several concessions including the withdrawal of the controversial bill and recently firing his entire Cabinet.

President Ruto, in a surprise move, also scrapped operations budgets for the Office of the First Lady and that of the wife to the Deputy President.

However, despite the changes, Kenyans returned to the streets on Tuesday, demanding the President’s resignation.

East African Community (EAC) Heads of State led by Kenya’s William Ruto and Samia Suluhu of Tanzania joined other African leaders on Wednesday to extend their felicitations to Kagame.

President Ruto said he wishes Kagame success as he continues to steer Rwanda in the “path of peace, stability and posterity”.

“On behalf of the people and Government of Kenya, I have the pleasure to convey warmest congratulations upon your re-election to serve a further term as President of the Republic of Rwanda,” President Ruto stated in a post on X.

“We celebrate with you the sovereign choice of the people of Rwanda and wish you success as you continue steering your country in the path of peace, stability and posterity.”

President Ruto committed to enriching existing ties between Kenya and Rwanda and strengthening regional cooperation.

“I look forward to continuing working with you in regional and Pan-African affairs in strengthening the bonds of solidarity and fraternity between the peoples of Kenya and Rwanda.”

Similarly, President Suluhu has also pledged to continue partnering with Kagame to foster ties between the two countries.

“On behalf of the Government and the People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Paul Kagame, on being re-elected as the President of the Republic of Rwanda. I look forward to continue working with you in fostering the relations between our two countries and in the pursuit of East Africa’s unity and prosperity,” she stated.

Filipe Nyusi, the President of Mozambique, also extended best wishes to Kagame, saying, “Wishing you the best of luck as you assume the new mandate and responsibility entrusted to you by the People of Rwanda.”

Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embaló wrote, “On behalf of Guinea-Bissau, congratulations President Paul Kagame on your resounding re-election! I wish you a new term filled with peace, prosperity, and progress.”

{{Kagame on course for landslide victory}}

In partial results announced on Monday, 15, 2024, Kagame is leading with 99.15 percent of the votes cast. Dr. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, so far has 0.53 percent of the votes, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana is trailing with 0.32 percent.

At the time of the announcement of the results, Kagame had garnered 7,099,810 votes, Habineza had received 38,301 votes, and Mpayimana had obtained 22,753 votes at the national level.

The total number of votes tallied was 7,160,864, which represents 78.94 percent of the votes cast locally and in the diaspora.

The NEC will announce provisional results by July 20, with final results expected not later than July 27, 2024.