In a recent interview with the French newspaper Jeune Afrique, the Kenyan Head of State weighed in on the conflict that has, in recent years, negatively impacted the relations between the DRC and Rwanda due to claims that the latter backs M23 rebels.
President Ruto maintained that the conflict was not about Rwanda and the DRC or about Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame but about Congolese citizens and their government.
“As heads of state, in a meeting, we asked M23 if the people in there are Rwandese or Congolese? And the DRC said these are Congolese, end of question. So if these are Congolese, how does it become a Rwanda problem, how does it become a Kagame problem? Since it is settled that M23 are Congolese, it’s a Congolese problem, and we need a Congolese solution,” President Ruto stated.
He emphasized the need for Tshisekedi’s administration to embrace dialogue with M23 to resolve the underlying issues.
This, he said, includes involving M23 groups in the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. He insisted that the military is not a solution to the conflict in eastern DRC.
“In our [heads of state] opinion, listening to all the sides, whether it’s using the Luanda or the Nairobi peace process, M23 wants to be involved in the dialogue. They are saying, ‘Why are you locking us out? We are Congolese; we have issues we want to talk to our government,’” President Ruto averred.
“I don’t find any better outcome than a citizenship that has grievances and is willing to engage their government in a discussion so that they can sort out their grievances.”
President Ruto said dialogue had helped sort out issues with the opposition in Kenya following his victory in the August 9, 2022, presidential election.
“When the opposition in Kenya raised issues about an election that I won fair and square, six months after the election they said, ‘We think we won the election,’ and they caused issues. I told them, ‘Okay, let us talk.’ We sat down and talked. It didn’t take anything from me. We engaged in a conversation and settled the issues. There is nothing anybody loses when you engage your citizens in dialogue,” President Ruto said while referring to anti-government protests that rocked Kenya last year.
Reacting to a recent statement from the United States calling on the Rwanda government to punish soldiers purported to be backing M23 rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kagame said such statements “simply add to the problem”.
“If I were talking to the leaders in the United States and others I would start by telling them that they can do much better than that [passing condemnation]. Because in the end, they are doing nothing. Passing statements of condemnation and blaming this and that without addressing the problem, I think, simply adds to the problem,” President Kagame stated.
The Head of State spoke virtually during his participation at the 2024 Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
“For every problem, there is a root cause. To solve it, you simply look at the root cause of the problem and work with the parties involved to address what needs to be addressed and reduce the politics and interests. Some of these things don’t just go away unless you do what needs to be done. It doesn’t need a lot of capacity to think. What all of us have can serve us to understand issues like this,” he added.
The US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller had early this month claimed that the attack on the Mugunga camp that claimed at least nine lives came from “Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and M23 positions.”
However, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed the US accusation as “ridiculous,” adding that Rwanda’s “professional army” would “never attack” a camp for displaced people.
Rwanda and DRC have been feuding over tension in the eastern DRC where the Congolese army has been fighting the M23 rebel group, part of the minority Tutsi ethnic group, which has accused the government of marginalization and persecution. On the other hand, Rwanda accuses DRC of backing FDLR, which consists of the remnants of the Interahamwe group that plotted and perpetrated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
{{Coups in West Africa
}}
Meanwhile, weighing in on the recent coups in West African countries such as Niger and Guinea, President Kagame emphasized that poor leadership should be blamed. He insisted that foreign powers should refrain from taking sides in the crises.
“If you look at where coups have been happening, nobody wishes to see coups happen in any place. There is nothing to celebrate about that. But at the same time, you don’t stop there. You don’t just condemn coups without even trying to find out what led to this coup. What was lacking for a coup to happen? This is when you start seeing signs of that in governance or lack of security, as we have seen in some of these countries in West Africa,” President Kagame said.
Citing Rwanda’s military support in fighting armed insurgents in Mozambique, President Kagame emphasized that African nations should find ways to work together to solve security and other common problems facing the continent instead of over-relying on the West.
“Why can’t people, first on our own continent, find ways of working together to address these problems like we did in Mozambique and the Central African Republic? With support from developed countries, it would happen faster and more easily. But they all concentrate on condemning.
“In fact, it is ridiculous that in some cases, they would condemn people in some places where coups have happened and be silent in similar cases. They will attack countries citing lack of freedom and human rights, and where some of these are lacking the most, because of interests people have in those countries, it will be muted.”
The list was presented by PSD’s Secretary General, Dr. Jean Chysostome Ngabitsinze, who highlighted that among the party’s representatives, there are 29 women. He expressed confidence that they would once again earn the trust of the electorate and represent the citizens.
Dr. Ngabitsinze also stated that for the presidential position, the party has chosen to support President Kagame, believing him to be the right leader for Rwanda.
He assured, “We guarantee the Rwandan people that PSD has always advocated for well-being, justice, mutual assistance, and development accessible to all. This agenda continues as the main challenge has been to ensure that all Rwandans can live and prosper freely, and we have been making progress in this.”
Dr. Ngabitsinze noted that PSD has consistently participated in the parliamentary elections since the Genocide against the Tutsi, and the Rwandan people have continued to trust them.
He said, “PSD has never missed an election since the Genocide against the Tutsi, indicating that Rwandans expect us to continually strive for the country’s good policies and strongly support our presidential candidate, Paul Kagame, as he is the right choice for Rwanda.”
PSD is unfazed by the increasing number of independent candidates in the parliamentary race and believes that their representation in the Parliament will not diminish.
He stated, “We are not worried. Fortunately, in Rwanda, we see many qualifying and aspiring to uplift the country. Regardless of the outcome, our country shares leadership and positions, so any additional Rwandan candidate does not intimidate us.”
“We are campaigning to increase our seats, not to ease the competition for anyone else, to secure more seats than we currently have as PSD. However, we acknowledge that everyone has full rights, and we will compete in democracy and peace as usual, respecting whoever wins,” he continued.
Dr. Ngabitsinze also emphasized PSD’s desire to increase the number of MPs from 80 to 120 to ensure proper representation of Rwandans.
He explained, “During our congress, we based our discussion on the progress of Rwandans, their historical numbers, and the ratio of citizens per representative. We see that increasing the number from 80 to 120 would mean better representation for Rwandans, from our point of view as PSD.”
Addressing concerns that this proposal is politically motivated to secure more positions in Parliament, he clarified, “It’s not about seeking political positions, as some have suggested, but rather about ensuring that a citizen can more easily reach their representative to convey their various problems, wishes, and plans at the national level.”
Regarding the financial feasibility of this proposal, Dr. Ngabitsinze indicated that it would not destabilize the country’s economy and that the actual concern would be the contributions from the increased number of members.
Dr. Ngabitsinze concluded by expressing confidence in the potential contributions of all 66 candidates, hoping they would outperform their competitors if elected.
On May 20, 2024, Habineza was received by Oda Gasinzigwa, the Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), at the commission’s offices in Kiyovu.
Dr. Habineza arrived at the NEC offices at 9:20 AM, accompanied by a large group of Green Party members including Senator Alex Mugisha and the party’s Secretary General, Elias Ntezimana.
He was asked to present all necessary documents, which he did, though some issues were found.
A presidential candidate is required to have Rwandan nationality by descent, hold no other citizenship, be irreproachable in conduct, and not have been deprived of civil and political rights by the courts.
Candidates must be at least 35 years old and must be in Rwanda at the time of submitting their candidacy, whereas parliamentary candidates must be 21 years old and hold Rwandan citizenship.
Among the required documents, Dr. Habineza Frank was missing two, including a certificate showing he had renounced any other nationality and a letter to the NEC requesting to be a candidate.
NEC President, Oda Gasinzigwa, asked the Green Party to ensure these documents are provided before the final list of approved candidates is released.
Dr. Habineza explained that he did not think it was necessary to provide a new certificate renouncing his previous Swedish citizenship, as he had already renounced it in 2017 when he first ran for President, assuming it was not needed again.
This is not the first time Dr. Habineza has contested in the presidential elections, as he received 0.48% of the vote in 2017.
He recently expressed confidence in his chances, noting that during the last elections, his party was still young, having been legally recognized in Rwanda only four years earlier.
He stated, “Indeed, last time in the presidential elections we did not get enough votes, but let’s remember that we were the only party challenging the nine others, it was not just an RPF candidate but a candidate from all those parties as you know them.”
The NEC plans to announce the definitively approved candidates from June 14, 2024, with the campaigning period running from June 22 to July 13, 2024.
MP Donatille Mukabalisa expresses that during her tenure, both as a speaker and parliamentarian, she takes pride in the achievements of the Rwandan Government, which have been accomplished with contributions from everyone.
In an interview with IGIHE recently, she discussed various topics, including her views on the Parliament’s responsibilities in representing the citizens, the preparations for elections within the Liberal Party (PL), which she leads, and other diverse subjects.
{{IGIHE: How are the preparations for the elections within PL going?}}
{{Donatille Mukabalisa:}} As you know, in July 2024, there will be Presidential and Parliamentary elections, and we in the Liberal Party (PL) are well prepared. Whenever there are elections, the first thing a political party thinks about is how to present its agenda to Rwandans to gain their votes.
The key preparation involves creating a political agenda that outlines what we intend to deliver.
We have carefully prepared our agenda, the Liberal Party’s (PL) principles, and our plans for Rwandans from 2024 to 2029 during this five-year term. This is based on the pillars of the economy, social welfare, and good governance.
Every political party has the responsibility to lead Rwandans toward sustainable development, ensuring their welfare, safety, and a country that experiences rapid and lasting progress.
All of this is grounded in the vision we have collectively set as Rwandans, whether you belong to a political party or not.
We have all contributed to the Vision 2050, and there are other sustainable development goals we must achieve as a country and globally, such as Vision 2063. These foundations are what we will present to Rwandans to secure their votes, enabling us to contribute to the goals we have set as a nation.
{{We have seen that you have chosen to support Paul Kagame. As a significant party in Rwanda, don’t you think you should present your own candidate instead of supporting another party’s candidate?}}
It is not only in Rwanda that a political party supports a candidate from another party.
The Liberal Party granted its members the freedom to choose. We asked them if they saw fit to present a candidate, and if so, who within the party would be suitable? They chose to support the candidate presented by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Inkotanyi, Paul Kagame.
During the deliberations, each speaker highlighted the reasons why they felt we should support the RPF Inkotanyi candidate, emphasizing the achievements and positive direction he has brought to the country.
When considering a Head of State, you ask what Rwandans need. But you must also conduct a broader analysis, asking what Rwanda as a country needs and who has the capability to meet those needs.
Given the critical challenges we faced after President Paul Kagame stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi and liberated our country from all possible evils, looking at our progress and vision, it is clear that there is no reason to change a winning team.
From the worst possible state, we have reached a place where even the world marvels at our progress. What seemed like a dead country has resurrected, with people rebuilding and showing great resilience, all thanks to good leadership.
We believe this good leadership should continue to guide us to reach and even surpass our goals, establishing a strong foundation and pillars while collaborating with him in all aspects.
{{In 2010, you had a candidate in the Presidential election. Did the unsatisfactory results lead you to support Paul Kagame this time?}}
You must consider the state of the country, the region, and the world at large because the world has become like a village. You must look at the interests of the country and Rwandans.
Considering all these factors, we concluded that the right candidate to support is Paul Kagame. However, this does not prevent us from preparing to present our own candidate in the future.
{{Do you think President Kagame’s successor could come from the Liberal Party?}}
We will assess that in due time, as it requires thorough preparation. When the time comes, you will know.
Before the Genocide against the Tutsi, the Liberal Party was very active, but now many people wonder what you do that would attract someone without a political affiliation to join the PL. What would you say to them?
The Liberal Party was founded on July 14, 1991. This July, we will be celebrating 33 years. It started during a very challenging and politically difficult time, with significant strength and noble goals.
The party fought for individual freedom, which was not available to Rwandans, for justice, and for development.
Living in a country that denies people their rights, where there is no justice, and where people cannot freely pursue activities that can lead to their development is unacceptable.
A country with severe exclusion and oppression of some Rwandans cannot progress if it is divided.
Fighting for these causes during such challenging times was not easy. We persisted, but Habyarimana’s regime saw the power of the Liberal Party and split it, creating a faction called PL Power based on ethnicity, while the rest of us continued with the original mission.
Understandably, many PL members were victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, but those who survived drew strength from within to rebuild the party’s political foundation, focusing on unifying Rwandans, which had been shattered.
We had the framework and the place to work from, which enabled us to continue building our strength to collaborate with other Rwandans in rebuilding the country, advancing it, and fostering a sense of unity. We are proud of the role we played in achieving this progress.
{{You have led the parliament for 11 years; when you look back, which achievements do you appreciate that have changed the lives of the citizens?}}
When we talk about the Assembly, it’s not about an individual looking at themselves alone, speaking as a leader or viewing it as just the Parliament because it involves collaboration with colleagues.
The Parliament has different organs, including the General Assembly as the main body, the Chairpersons’ Council, and various committee works where we all work together.
Regarding its responsibilities of enacting laws and overseeing government activities, we do all this collectively.
We are proud of all we have achieved as a country because we have fulfilled our duties as the Parliament while working with other institutions.
When we talk about enacting laws, they are established to ensure that the policies that have been set can be implemented, and laws are made to address specific issues.
When we oversee the government’s activities, we are looking at things like the past seven-year program, the 2050 vision, and ensuring that the goals Rwandans need to achieve are met appropriately, bringing visible changes in the lives of Rwandans.
I can say that we are proud of what we have achieved because we played our part in our duties as the Parliament across all levels. We cannot claim it was just us alone; we all worked together.
{{We sometimes see laws being enacted and then amended shortly after; how does this happen, and why aren’t enduring laws passed from the beginning?}}
We are a developing country; when laws are enacted, we do not stop there. After some time, we go back and review our oversight duty to monitor the implementation of those laws to see if they are solving the issues they were created to address.
We review how they are being implemented, often after about three years. When we review their implementation, we sometimes find that they are not being implemented correctly or are not solving the issues they were created to address, making it necessary to amend them.
We are a country that wants to progress quickly, and like when you build a house, there comes a point where you notice things that need to be improved even though the plan was initially well-drawn. You may need to make adjustments to make it better.
When building a country, you reach a point where you review and ask if what you are doing is solving the problems that led to the laws being enacted. That is where amendments come in.
There is nothing wrong with amending; the problem would be to leave something that is not working well unaddressed because you are not amending it.
Oda Gasinzigwa ,NEC Chairperson, stated that significant efforts have been made to enhance election preparations, including the consolidation of the elections, revision of the election law, and creation of a Presidential decree regulating the elections.
She highlighted that after updating the law and the voter list, it was found that nearly two million young people will be voting for the first time.
Currently, the total number of voters stands at 9.5 million, with over 53,000 Rwandans living abroad. The process of correcting the voter list is still ongoing.
This is a combined election where Rwandans will vote for the President and 54 Deputies from political parties or independent candidates, with additional Deputies coming from special categories.
{{The number of independent candidates has increased}}
The NEC has announced that there has been an increase in the number of independent candidates as it has now received nominations for the position of President of the Republic and candidates for the position of 41 MPs.
They are currently seeking signatures where their applications will be accepted from May 17, 2024 to May 30, 2024, to be considered eligible.
Candidates are requested to abide by the rules and regulations and avoid any disqualification.
{{Requirements for the person who wants to be a candidate }}
Legal Commissioner Judith Mbabazi outlined the legal requirements for the various positions.
She pointed out that for the position of the Head of the Nation, he is required to have Rwandan nationality by origin, to have no other nationality, to be morally sound, and not to be deprived of his civil and political rights by the courts.
The aspirant is required to be at least 35 years of age, he must be in Rwanda at the time of his candidacy and for MPs, he is required to be 21 years of age and have citizenship.
{{Polling stations }}
The NEC states that more than 17,000 polling stations have been prepared across the country because it is hoped that at least 500 people will vote in each station.
Another thing that goes with the polling room is the equipment that will be included, which is two boxes in each room.
{{Reviewing the Voters List is ongoing}}
While the National Electoral Commission states that 9.5 million people have already registered to vote, it states that the process of correcting the voter list using technology is ongoing.
This system is designed to help people check if they are on the voter list, move based on their location and make general corrections by dialing *169#.
In terms of technology, observers have also started applying to monitor the elections and now it has been made easier so that applicants are allowed without having to come to Rwanda, but everything is done online.
{{Dissolution of the House of Representatives}}
The Constitution stipulates when the House of Representatives can be dissolved for electoral reasons, but due to changes that led to combined elections, the statutory period was ignored as their term expired last year.
The NEC states that during the transitional period, the law shows that the members of parliament who are present at the end of their term, continue to lead until the assembly is dissolved for electoral reasons.
Due to the fact that the elections were combined this year, the dissolution of the assembly will depend on the term of the President of the Republic when it ends.
{{Important dates for elections}}
NEC announces that from May 17 to May 30, 2024, it will be receiving candidates’ applications. Their confirmation will be announced on June 14, 2024, and on June 22 – July 13, 2024 campaign activities will begin.
It is planned that on June 29, 2024 the list of voters will be published, on July 14 there will be elections for Rwandans living abroad and on July 15, 2024, there will be elections inside the country.
On July 16, 2024, elections are scheduled for 24 women deputies, two representing youth and one deputy representing people with disabilities.
It is planned that by July 20, 2024, the provisional results of the elections will be announced, while the results of the elections should be announced by July 27.
The Head of State, vying for the presidency on the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party ticket, was the first candidate to present his papers to the commission in the exercise that kicked off today at the Commission’s office in Kiyovu.
The President was accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, RPF Vice-Chairperson, RPF Secretary-General, and RPF commissioners.
NEC chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa verified the President’s papers and asserted that the candidate’s file was complete.
At least eight independent candidates have declared their interest to challenge Kagame in the forthcoming poll. Also on the list of candidates eyeing the presidency is Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda.
To be cleared to run for the presidency, candidates must meet several requirements, including proof of Rwandan citizenship. The candidates must be at least 35 years of age, be of high integrity, and not have a history of criminal convictions resulting in sentences exceeding six months, among other requirements.
{{RPF endorses Kagame }}
President Kagame received a green light from the ruling party to run for a fourth term in office during the party’s meeting held in March, where he secured 99.1 per cent of the votes cast.
Welcoming his endorsement, Kagame said, “We know where this country has come from. I appreciate the apparent role you have played in that. I also appreciate the trust that you always and continue to place in me. The burden you have given me I have accepted to carry.”
Kagame assumed the presidency in 2000, six years after leading the RPF rebel group to topple the Hutu-led regime that perpetrated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
In a press conference discussing preparations for the elections scheduled for July 2024, NEC leadership provided updates on the current state of readiness. NEC Chairperson, Oda Gasinzigwa revealed that eight individuals have so far expressed their intention to run as independent presidential candidates, alongside 41 prospective parliamentary candidates.
However, Gasinzigwa emphasized that these numbers might not be final. The candidates must submit their applications for verification to ensure they meet the necessary requirements. Historically, some applicants fail to meet these criteria, resulting in a reduced number of eligible candidates.
Gasinzigwa also issued a warning to those seeking to become independent candidates for both presidential and parliamentary elections against using money to solicit signatures. “We’ve heard rumors of this practice. If true, it is unacceptable. We do not want our citizens to be subjected to such manipulation,” she stated.
She continued, “When requesting a signature, it means engaging with the person, explaining your intentions, and ensuring they are on the voter list. It’s a one-on-one conversation, and we believe we have communicated this clearly. We trust the process will go smoothly.”
Starting from May 17, 2024, the commission will begin accepting official applications from those seeking to run for various positions. This process will conclude on May 30, 2024.
Judith Mbabazi, Commissioner in charge of Legal Affairs, outlined the legal requirements for different positions. For the presidency, candidates must possess Rwandan nationality by origin, have no other citizenship, exhibit impeccable conduct, and not have been stripped of civil and political rights by any court.
Additionally, they must be at least 35 years old and be present in Rwanda at the time of their application. For parliamentary candidates, the age requirement is 21 years.
This election marks the first time that presidential and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously, a change aimed at reducing the overall cost of conducting separate elections.
The campaign period for both presidential and parliamentary candidates will commence on Saturday, June 22, 2024, and conclude on July 12, 2024, for candidates abroad, and on July 13, 2024, for those within the country.
President Goita was supposed to step down after 18 months following a coup, but this was extended to two years. Subsequently, he faced significant pressure to leave office after his self-declared term ended.
However, this could change as the government has expressed a desire to postpone elections until 2027, due to the country still grappling with difficult times characterized by poor security, economic downturns, and other issues.
After three months of general discussions, the government now wishes to extend President Goita’s term by another three years, with him potentially leaving office in 2027.
Yet, this is also not straightforward as pressure continues to mount on Goita, who is accused of violating human rights and imprisoning political opponents, charges he seldom addresses.
On the other hand, the Mali government has expressed a desire to negotiate with the groups opposing it and, if necessary, integrate some of their fighters into the national army to end a conflict that has been devastating parts of the country’s north for over a decade.
An official communication from the Office of the Guinea President on Sunday indicated that President Kagame is expected to land at the Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport at 9:00 am.
Senior government officials have been invited to attend the welcoming ceremony at the airport. The officials include the President of the National Security Council, Dansa Kourouma, the Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, heads of various government agencies, members of different ministries, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Chief of the Gendarmerie, heads of land, air, and naval forces, diplomats representing their respective countries, international organization representatives, police chiefs, customs officials, conservationists, and the Mayor of Conakry.
The agenda items of the meeting were not immediately disclosed.
The visit, however, comes nearly four months after Guinea’s Interim President, Mamadi Doumbouya, concluded a three-day visit to Rwanda, aimed at strengthening friendship and cooperation ties between the two countries.
Doumbouya was accompanied by the First Lady of Guinea, Lauriane Doumbouya.
President Kagame made a similar trip to Guinea from April 17-18, 2023, which resulted in the signing of an agreement on the creation of a joint cooperation committee between Rwanda and Guinea. This committee covers areas such as agriculture, ICT, education, mining, and security.
President Kagame and Doumbouya also witnessed the inauguration of a highway interchange connecting Kagbélen to Conakry that was named after President Kagame. The project was initiated to ease movement between major industrial cities and Conakry as well as with neighbouring countries.
Kagame’s visit to Guinea follows a similar visit to Senegal, where he and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye agreed to strengthen ties between the two nations on Sunday.
