For the first time, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has announced his intention to seek a fourth term in the upcoming elections scheduled for next year.
In an interview published online on Tuesday with Jeune Afrique, a French-language news magazine, Kagame, who has maintained a firm grip on the country for many years, unequivocally stated, “Yes, I am indeed a candidate.”
“I am pleased with the confidence that Rwandans have placed in me. I will always serve them, as long as I can,” the 65-year-old was quoted as saying.
In March, the Rwandan government made the decision to align the dates for both its parliamentary and presidential elections, which are scheduled to take place in August next year.
Kagame had previously not clarified his intentions, but he oversaw contentious constitutional changes that enabled him to serve a third term.
A former rebel leader, Kagame has been considered the de facto leader of the country since the conclusion of the 1994 genocide.
He won a third term in 2017, taking home nearly 99 percent of the vote.