Rwandan President Paul Kagame gives a speech at the inauguration ceremony of biotechnology company BioNTech's first manufacturing plant for mRNA vaccines in Africa, in Kigali, Rwanda, Dec. 18, 2023. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)
Rwanda's ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), has officially selected incumbent President Paul Kagame as its candidate for the presidential election in July.
KIGALI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), has officially selected incumbent President Paul Kagame as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election in July.
Kagame was overwhelmingly elected with 99.1 percent of the vote during the party's congress, which was held Saturday in the capital city of Kigali.
In his acceptance speech, Kagame expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him to continue building the country. He also emphasized the importance of grooming the next generation of leaders within the party, urging members to think beyond his tenure and consider the future leadership of the RPF-Inkotanyi.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame delivers a speech during the commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda, April 7, 2023. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
The party also unveiled its list of 70 parliamentary candidates and its manifesto for the next five years once it wins the elections.
The congress followed countrywide party primaries held in February to select flag bearers. Nominations for the positions of president and members of the lower chamber of parliament will be held on May 17-30, with the elections scheduled for July 15, according to the Rwanda National Electoral Commission. ■
