On Sunday, August 11, 2024, Paul Kagame was officially sworn in for a fourth five-year term as President of Rwanda, following his re-election on July 15 with over 99% of the vote.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, where thousands of Rwandans from across the country gathered, along with numerous foreign leaders. Among the attending heads of state and government were leaders from Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Togo, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Botswana, Sudan, Senegal, and Ethiopia.
The ceremony featured the national anthem, a 21-gun salute, the presentation of the Constitution and presidential insignia to Kagame by a constitutional judge, and a military review and parade.
In his inaugural address, President Kagame expressed his gratitude to the Rwandan people and the distinguished guests. He noted that the election campaign had been characterized by the joy and satisfaction of millions of Rwandans.
” This reality is undeniable. It stems from the spirit of togetherness among Rwandans and shared determination to be owners of our future. This is exactly what we have been working for all these years. Rather than leaving behind new divisions to be healed, our political process is designed to renew and deepen our unity,” Kagame stated.
He emphasized the importance of national unity and justice, asserting that Africans must tailor their governance systems to the specific realities of their countries.
“Indeed, we Africans are people who consistently fought injustice, we don’t need any lessons about how to do so and we must all humbly accept the necessity to adapt our political and governance systems to our specific conditions and expectations of our citizens.”
Paul Kagame, 66, has been President of Rwanda since 2000. This new five-year term is his first since the Rwandan Constitution was revised in 2017.
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Paul Kagame sworn in for 4th term as President of Rwanda
Paul Kagame and his wife during the inauguration on August 11, 2024. Photo by Rwandan Presidency
