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.
According to the Canadian police, the vehicle, which was carrying soldiers from Oromocto town, veered off the road and knocked a tree, immediately bursting into flames. Sources indicate that Nkubito and his two other colleagues died on spot.
The police reported that the accident occurred 30 kilometers from Fredericton, a city in New Brunswick Province. An investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of the accident.
A relative to Nkubito who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed sadness saying the death is a big loss to the family.
“He was expected to achieve much for his personal development and his country, especially given his young age. It is such a big loss,” he said.
The family member also disclosed that Nkubito had been serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for three years and lived with his family in Canada.
Requiem masses in his honor will be held at Institut de Formation Apostolique de Kimihurura (IFAK-Kimihurura), in Gasabo District on various dates.
They will be held on July 18, 2024, at 1:15 PM; on July 19, 2024, at 1:15 PM; and on July 20, 2024, starting at 7:00 AM. The final requiem mass will be on July 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the same venue.
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.
The King expressed his warm congratulations on the Rwandan people’s renewed trust in Kagame’s competences and ability to lead the country towards further achievements, progress and prosperity.
“I take this opportunity to reaffirm my determination to continue working with the President of the Republic of Rwanda to strengthen the fraternal relations rooted in mutual esteem between the two countries,” he said in a statement.
“I commit to reinforce the fruitful Moroccan-Rwandan cooperation, serving both people’s shared interests and promoting integration and solidarity between African countries,” he added.
In the same spirit, Uganda’s Museveni posted his congratulatory message to Kagame on his X handle.
“Your re-election is a testament to the trust and confidence the people of Rwanda have in your leadership,” he said.
“Uganda recognizes Rwanda as a strategic ally with a shared vision of peace and prosperity. I look forward to collaborating with you for the benefit of our nations and the East African Community,” he added.
Rwanda enjoys cordial relations with both Morocco and Uganda in various sectors.
Simillary, in a message posted on X, the Government of Somaliland also reacted to Kagame’s re-election by conveying sincere congratulations.
“President Kagame’s steadfast leadership continues to inspire us. We express willingness to strengthen Somaliland’s relations with Rwanda given our shared history,” the message read.
Other distinguished leaders who have so far sent their congratulations include Presidents William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar’s Andry Rajoelina and Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Rwandans went to the polls on Sunday July 14, Monday July 15 and Tuesday July 16, 2024, following a three-week campaign period.
Partial results announced on Thursday by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) put RPF Inkotanyi candidate Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.18% of the votes, while Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana managed 0.50% and 0.32%, respectively.
The final results are expected to be announced by July 27, 2024.
“The United States welcomes a 15-day extension of the humanitarian truce committed to by the parties to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]. This extension will be in effect until 11:59 pm local time on August 3 and recommits the parties to the conflict to silence their weapons and provide humanitarian personnel unfettered access to vulnerable populations,” reads a statement released by the Spokesperson of White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson.
“In support of the Luanda Process, we commit to working with the Governments of the DRC, Rwanda, and Angola to use this truce extension to outline a series of steps to reach a durable cessation of hostilities and set conditions for the voluntary return of displaced populations,” he added.
The US has previously concurred that, based on discussions held by Intelligence Chiefs of Rwanda and the DRC in November 2023, FARDC and M23 had agreed to a one-week ceasefire.
This ceasefire, which began on July 5, was originally scheduled to end on July 19, 2024.
Its main aim of the ceasefire was to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians displaced by the conflict. Despite the agreement, there have been reports of ceasefire violations from either warring faction.
On July 14, 2024, M23 spokesperson Lt Col Willy Ngoma announced that a coalition of the DRC government and some affiliated rebel groups had launched an attack on their territories in Kirumbi and Kanyabayonga.
On the other hand, FARDC spokesperson in North Kivu, Lt Col Ndjike Kaiko Guillaume, accused M23 rebels of attacking them in parts of Nyange and Mpati, in the western part of Kitshanga, Masisi territory on July 10, 2024.
The United States has repeatedly warned against potential violations and recommended regional mechanisms as key to pacifying Eastern DRC.
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.
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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.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Maraga described Rwanda’s polls as one of the most organized electoral processes he has ever witnessed.
“The electoral process was very orderly and peaceful. In fact, one of the best-organized I have ever seen. The organization was superb unlike in some places where elections are chaotic, rowdy, and noisy, even at the polling stations on polling day,” Maraga stated.
“My people gave me information from all the polling stations that there was no dancing, no noise in general, and it was very good,” he added.
Maraga’s delegation comprised 55 observers dispatched to different parts of the country on election day.
Apart from the EAC, other observer groups present during the elections included the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Others were from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and the electoral mission of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).
In a joint statement, the observers affirmed that the electoral, political, and security environment in Rwanda before, during, and immediately after the elections was calm and peaceful.
“The National Electoral Commission and other institutions responsible for managing the electoral process have so far discharged their duty diligently in accordance with the electoral calendar,” reads the statement.
The observers commended the government for the successful election and also congratulated the people of Rwanda for exercising their democratic right.
Partial results announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Monday July 15, 2024 put President Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.15% followed Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana with 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.
