This declaration was made during an interview with Jeune Afrique, where President Kagame responded to questions about his recent re-election as the Chairman of RPF Inkotanyi, where he received an impressive 99.8% support, raising speculations about his role in the forthcoming elections.
In response to the interviewer’s inquiry, Kagame expressed his appreciation for the trust bestowed upon him by the people of Rwanda. He emphasized his commitment to serving their interests to the best of his abilities.
Furthermore, he unequivocally confirmed his candidacy for the 2024 presidential polls, acknowledging the apparent nature of his potential rerun, as suggested by the interviewer.
Expressing his gratitude, Kagame recognized the continuous trust placed in him by cadres and citizens alike. He stressed the profound significance of this trust, acknowledging that it deepened his sense of duty and indebtedness to the Rwandan people.
Reflecting on his political journey, it’s worth noting that Kagame initially assumed office on April 17, 2000, following his election by the Parliament and cabinet members. He stepped into the leadership role after Pasteur Bizimana’s resignation, leading the country during a three-year transitional regime.
In 2003, Kagame was elected as President for his first term, securing an impressive 95% of the votes. He was subsequently re-elected for a second term in 2010, with a substantial 93% of the votes. At that time, the Rwandan constitution stipulated a two-term limit for the head of state.
In response to the request of over 5 million citizens, the Parliament revised the Constitution, allowing Kagame to run for the 2017 presidential polls. In that election, he garnered a commanding 98.79% of the votes, facing competition from other contenders, including Mpayimana Philippe, who received 0.73%, and Dr. Habineza Frank, who obtained 0.48% of the votes.
Now, after serving six years in his third term, Kagame has announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections.
This decision aligns with the Constitution’s revision in 2015, which permits the President to contend for presidential polls until 2034. Notably, these upcoming terms will be reduced to five years instead of the previous seven, while maintaining alignment with constitutional changes.
“As the people of Zimbabwe, we have demonstrated that we are a mature democracy,” Mnangagwa said in his first public address to the media at state house in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, after being announced the winner.
He was re-elected for his second and final five-year term, after garnering 52.6 percent of the total votes cast, according to the results announced by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba late Saturday.
According to ZEC, Mnangagwa beat 10 other presidential contestants after polling 2,350,711 votes, constituting 52.6 percent of the total 4,468,668 valid votes cast.
His main rival and opposition Citizens for Coalition Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa, got 44 percent of the valid votes cast, after getting 1,967,343 votes, according to Chigumba.
“The elections have come and gone. I am humbled by the trust and confidence that you my fellow country men and women have reposed on me, to once again serve as President of our great country Zimbabwe,” said Mnangagwa.
He took the opportunity to thank the various election observer missions that witnessed the electoral process without bias.
Now that the election period is over, Mnangagwa urged the nation to remain united towards national developmental aspirations.
“There is much more work to be done. Together, as one united people we shall continue on the growth trajectory witnessed over the last five years. No one and no place will be left behind,” Mnangagwa said.
He further urged the nation to remain vigilant and jealously guard the prevailing peaceful and tranquil environment. “That which unites us is much greater than that which could ever divide us,” Mnangagwa said.
“I further call on us all to return to work with a greater sense of purpose towards increased production and productivity across all sectors,” he added.
He also thanked other contestants in the election, saying “there are no winners or losers; but one united people of Zimbabwe.”
Mnangagwa said after a successful first five year term, the thrust of his government now would be to ensure the consolidation of the country’s food security.
According to ZEC, voter turnout in this year’s election was 68.9 percent in the presidential election.
Mnangagwa’s ruling ZANU-PF party won the majority of the 210 parliamentary seats.
The vehicle, Toyota Hilux RAD 698C belonging to one Dr. William Agaba, was reported stolen on July 17, from a parking lot at MTN service centre in Nyabugogo.
The RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, said that the search for the vehicle was activated after the victim reported the alleged car theft.
“Police first recovered the engine of the vehicle on July 23, in Gisenyi town, Rubavu District where the suspect in custody was looking for a buyer.
The other part of the car without an engine was later recovered in Kacyiru sector, Gasabo District,” CP Kabera said.
Investigations indicate that the suspect, a mechanic in Gatsata, hatched a plan in May, when he forged the car key as he was repairing it at a garage in Gatsata.
CP Kabera warned against such criminal acts and thanked members of the public, who helped the Police in successful investigations.
The victim, Dr. Agaba, thanked the Police for the swift response to recover his vehicle.
“I am grateful for efforts that Rwanda National Police deployed to successfully recover my car and to arrest the suspect,” he said.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 167, the penalty for theft doubles if the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out during the night or the theft is carried out by more than one (1) person.
Speaking to The New Times, Yolande Makolo, the government spokesperson disclosed that the decision is regrettable and could have negative implications for the bilateral relations between Rwanda and Belgium.
“It is unfortunate that the Belgian government seems to have capitulated to pressure from the DRC government as well as propaganda from negationist organisations and activists, through who they decided to leak the decision,” she said.
The Belgian government has not yet made a public statement regarding this matter. The leaking of the decision by Jambo News, an outlet affiliated with Jambo ASBL, a group comprising children born to extremist Rwandan exiles accused of involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, has drawn criticism on social media. Some question whether Jambo News has become a communication channel for Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This rejection is another setback in the bilateral ties between Rwanda and Belgium, following a misunderstanding in September 2021 concerning the case of Paul Rusesabagina, who was convicted of terrorism.
At that time, Rwanda called off a scheduled bilateral meeting with Belgium at the ministerial level during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in response to Sophie Wilmes, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, criticizing the ruling on Rusesabagina’s 25-year jail term.
Wilmes had expressed concerns about Rusesabagina’s trial, stating, ‘Mr. Rusesabagina did not benefit from a fair and impartial trial, especially with regard to the right to defense’.
She said, the presumption of innocence was also not respected and concluded that these factors effectively question trials and judgments.
In response, the Government of Rwanda accused the Kingdom of Belgium of showing contempt toward Rwanda’s judicial system throughout the trial and highlighted the significant contribution of relevant Belgian institutions to the investigation.
Rwanda emphasized that the victims of FLN’s terrorist acts deserved justice just as much as Rusesabagina and his co-defendants. Consequently, scheduled bilateral talks at the ministerial level did not take place.
Rusesabagina was released on presidential clemency this year.
It’s worth mentioning that Belgium has been keen on deepening relations with DRC, especially amidst the ongoing conflict between M23 and the Congolese Army (FARDC), which has allied with FDLR.
In February 2023, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, met with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and criticized Rwanda’s alleged support to M23 based on the disputed UN Group of Experts Report on DRC. Rwanda, however, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the DRC crisis.
While the specific reason for the rejection of Amb. Karega was not disclosed, reports suggest that Belgium’s assertive support for the DR Congo played a significant role in this decision.
Amb. Karega was appointed as ambassador-designate in March 2023, with the expectation that he would replace Dieudonné Sebashongore. Previously, Karega served as Rwanda’s ambassador to DR Congo.
“Amending the constitution to harmonize the date for parliamentary and presidential polls will help save money and time used for conducting each election,” said Edda Mukabagwiza, deputy speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in charge of parliamentary affairs, after the vote.
The bill for the constitutional amendment was proposed by the president and first approved by the Rwandan Cabinet in March this year.
Wednesday’s final vote by lawmakers means the parliamentary elections originally scheduled for September this year will be delayed until August next year, the date set for presidential polls, according to officials.
According to the National Electoral Commission, holding parliamentary and presidential elections at the same time could save the country about 6 billion Rwandan francs (about 5 million U.S. dollars).
This is the second amendment to the country’s constitution since 2015 when it was amended to reduce presidential tenure to two five-year terms.
“Saudi Arabia and the United States remain steadfast in their commitment to the people of Sudan and call upon the parties to agree to and effectively implement a new cease-fire, with the aim of building to a permanent cessation of hostilities,” the two countries said in a joint statement posted by the U.S. Embassy in Sudan on Twitter.
Despite the formal pause in the Jeddah talks and the expiration of the five-day extension to the previous week-long cease-fire agreement on Saturday, the delegations from the two warring parties remain in Jeddah, the statement said.
It added that the facilitators stood ready to resume formal talks and reminded the parties of their obligations under the May 11 Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and the United States announced the suspension of the Jeddah peace talks between the Sudanese Army and the RSF.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the army and the RSF in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15, leaving more than 800 people dead and at least 1.6 million displaced, according to UN statistics.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to lead the country during a runoff.
Erdogan won 52.14 percent of votes in the presidential runoff against his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who garnered 47.86 percent of the votes.
In the first round of the presidential election on May 14, Erdogan earned 49.52 percent of the vote while Kilicdaroglu received 44.88 percent.
Neither secured more than 50 percent of the votes needed to call a winner in the first round, therefore an election runoff was held for the first time for the presidency.
The third-place candidate, nationalist politician Sinan Ogan, with 5.17 percent of votes, announced his endorsement of Erdogan in the runoff where only the two most supported were able to race.
Erdogan’s People’s Alliance, composed of the ruling Justice and Development Party and Nationalist Movement Party, garnered a majority of 323 seats in the 600-seat parliament in the parliament election, while the six-party opposition block Nation Alliance received 212 seats.
The twin elections saw a high voter turnout at 86.98 percent, with almost 54 million citizens going to the polls.
Erdogan, who has been leading the country since he became prime minister in 2003, became the first president of Türkiye in 2018 following a constitutional referendum in 2017 which changed Türkiye’s parliamentary system into a presidential system.
China and the DRC are strategic partners with a profound traditional friendship forged in the course of fighting for national liberation and opposing colonial aggression, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his talks with visiting DRC President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo in Beijing.
Bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results in recent years, and China has been the DRC’s largest trading partner and source of foreign investment for many years in a row, Xi said.
The two sides have forged a close community of shared interests and shared future, Xi said.
Xi said China’s successful experience in its path to modernization shows that developing countries have the right and the ability to explore modernization paths suited to their national conditions, adding that China is ready to synergize its development strategies with the DRC, support each other and promote cooperation and development.
He expressed the belief that China’s high-quality development will provide more cooperation opportunities and a broader market for the DRC and promote greater development of bilateral relations.
China will, as always, help the DRC in its economic and social development, support its industrialization strategy, strengthen cooperation in energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing, and tap the potential of cooperation in the digital economy, education, and health, Xi said, adding that China is ready to send agricultural technology experts to the DRC.
China hopes that the DRC will provide policy support and service convenience for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the DRC and foster a fair, just, and safe business environment, he said.
Xi said China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the DRC in multilateral affairs, jointly practice true multilateralism, and uphold international fairness and justice.
Noting that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, Xi said the two sides need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever under the current international situation.
He called on the two sides to uphold the basic norms governing international relations, oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
China firmly supports Africa in pursuing an independent development path and becoming an important pole in the world politics, economy and civilization, Xi said, adding that China is ready to provide new opportunities for African countries with its new development.
China will work with Africa to implement the outcomes of the Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Dakar, advance Belt and Road cooperation, support Africa in achieving sustainable development, and build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, Xi said.
Tshisekedi congratulated China on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the “two sessions,” and Xi’s reelection as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and the Chinese president, as well as China’s extraordinary achievements in the new era under President Xi’s leadership.
He said he is convinced that China is sure to realize its Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.
Tshisekedi thanked China for its important assistance and valuable support for the economic and social development of the DRC over the past half century.
The DRC firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports China’s efforts to achieve national reunification, he said.
The DRC is willing to work with China to deepen cooperation in economy, trade, resources, infrastructure, medical care and other fields to enrich the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and build a mature, stable and groundbreaking relationship for the benefit of the two peoples, Tshisekedi said.
After the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in investment, green economy, digital economy, and other fields.
Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Tshisekedi at the square outside the Great Hall of the People.
In the evening, President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan held a banquet for President Tshisekedi and his wife Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi at the Great Hall of the People.
One of the reforms that Welby wants to challenge is the Rwanda-UK Migration and Economic Development Partnership, which involves the deportation of migrants residing illegally in the UK to Rwanda.
Under this agreement signed in April last year, migrants sent to Rwanda will receive assistance in starting a new life, having their asylum claims processed, accessing economic opportunities, or receiving support to return to their home countries if they so wish.
Archbishop Welby stated that the Illegal Migration Bill 2022-23, which was introduced in the House of Commons to change the law and prevent those who enter the UK illegally from remaining in the country, would be ineffective in addressing the migrant crisis. He accused the government of lacking foresight and neglecting the actual problems faced by the world.
In an opinion piece published by the Comment Central news outlet, Amb. Busingye criticized Archbishop Welby’s narrow-minded perspective on the partnership with Rwanda.
“It seems to me that criticisms of the partnership as a narrow-minded approach to the migration crisis are themselves based on incomplete, narrow-minded perspectives of Rwanda’s partnership with the UK,” he said.
“In reality, our partnership is specifically focused on overhauling an outdated, broken international system, and contributing to long-term global solutions to this global crisis,” added Amb. Busingye.
Considering figures from the International Organisation for Maritime, he emphasized the magnitude of the crisis, where over 50,000 lives have been lost on migration routes since 2014, with many of them being Africans attempting to reach Europe.
Drawing from Rwanda’s own history, he said that the country’s recent past, during which many Rwandans experienced what it means to be a refugee, enables them to empathise with ‘this human suffering’.
Amb. Busingye also emphasized the need for practical solutions rather than moralizing and indecision.
To effectively address the crisis, he believes it is crucial to understand its underlying causes.
Amb. Busingye highlighted the belief among migrants and asylum seekers that their immediate regional neighborhoods do not offer safe and prosperous lives, while the global north is seen as a perpetual source of opportunity. He acknowledged that the reasons behind this belief are complex and subject to further discussion.
The Ambassador asserted that the core defect in the global migration crisis lies in the necessity for individuals to embark on perilous journeys across thousands of miles, often at the mercy of ruthless traffickers, to seek safety and opportunity.
To combat this, Rwanda places great importance on creating a safe haven within its borders. Of these efforts, the country has implemented liberal visa and residency policies, providing safety, public services, legal rights, and employment opportunities for asylum seekers, refugees, and economic migrants.
Rwanda has also collaborated with international partners to rescue migrants from Libyan detention camps and offer them sanctuary. Continuous investments are made to improve refugee camps, accommodation facilities, and educational institutions.
The partnership between Rwanda and the UK is seen as a significant step towards sustainable solutions through international cooperation.
In addition to saving lives in the English Channel and disrupting criminal people-smuggling networks, the partnership offers investment opportunities for migrants to build new lives in Rwanda. This investment approach recognizes that addressing the pressures faced by European asylum systems requires investing in safe countries like Rwanda, which can better accommodate migrants. The investments contribute not only to development goals but also create new centers for migrants.
As Amb. Busingye explained, the partnership involves joint efforts between the governments of Rwanda and the UK to enhance the quality of life for both migrants and Rwandans.
This includes support for jobs, education, public services, and housing. During a visit by the UK Home Secretary, various developments were showcased, such as the Gahanga Housing Project, vocational training programs, and educational facilities like the Kepler Academy.
Amb. Busingye believes that such programs represent the future of a sustained global effort to end dangerous and illegal migration.
However, he acknowledged that global progress is hindered by the polarization and politicization of the migration and asylum debate.
In the UK, Amb. Busingye criticized the outdated and negative perceptions of Rwanda that have further complicated discussions.
He underscored that action and results are more important than mere words and expressed confidence that the partnership between Rwanda and the UK will pave the way for a sustainable solution to the global crisis.
Ultimately, Amb. Busingye hopes that global cooperation and investment will allow migrants and refugees worldwide to safely and swiftly reach cities with welcoming migration policies, providing safety, opportunity, and dignity.
Ahmet Yener said to reporters that Erodgan is reelected Türkiye’s president according to initial results.
Erdogan won 52.14 percent of votes in the presidential runoff against his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who garnered 47.86 percent of the votes, Yener said.
He added that 196,744 ballot boxes, or 99.43 percent of all, have been opened.
In the first round of the presidential election on May 14, Erdogan earned 49.52 percent of the vote while Kilicdaroglu received 44.88 percent.
Neither secured more than 50 percent of the votes needed to call a winner in the first round, therefore an election runoff was held for the first time for the presidency.
The third-place candidate, nationalist politician Sinan Ogan, with 5.17 percent of votes, announced his endorsement of Erdogan in the runoff where only the two most supported were able to race.
Erdogan’s People’s Alliance, composed of the ruling Justice and Development Party and Nationalist Movement Party, garnered a majority of 323 seats in the 600-seat parliament in the parliament election, while the six-party opposition block Nation Alliance received 212 seats.
The twin elections saw a high voter turnout at 86.98 percent, with almost 54 million citizens going to the polls.
Erdogan, who has been leading the country since he became prime minister in 2003, became the first president of Türkiye in 2018 following a constitutional referendum in 2017 which changed Türkiye’s parliamentary system into a presidential system.
Under his leadership, Türkiye has increased its presence in regional affairs despite contentions with the United States and other Western allies on issues such as the Syria conflict and rapprochement with Russia.
Erdogan’s win came amid the country’s current economic troubles and cost-of-living crisis. The Turkish lira lost roughly 80 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar in five years and the inflation rate is around 50 percent. Erdogan is a supporter of an unorthodox economic policy of lowering interest rates despite high inflation.
The crisis is further exacerbated by the devastating earthquakes in early February in southern Türkiye, which killed more than 50,000 people and left tens of thousands of people homeless.
In the last two weeks, the two candidates focused to appeal to nationalist votes in their campaigns. They both pledged to focus on problems regarding refugee issues and vowed to end terrorism as the May 14 results showed an increase in support for nationalist parties.
Erdogan was promising a new “Turkish century” if he is reelected. He also stressed his presidency as a requirement for harmony among state institutions and stability in the country as his alliance held the majority at the parliament.
