Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has confirmed that he will run for a fourth term next year, which could extend his presidency to nearly three decades.
Kagame made the announcement in an interview with Jeune Afrique, a French-language news magazine, on Tuesday, September 20.
“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.
The Rwandan government in March decided to synchronise the dates for its parliamentary and presidential elections, which are due to be held in August next year.
A former rebel chief, Kagame has been regarded as the country’s de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide. He won a third term in 2017, taking home nearly 99 percent of the vote.
