Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame was sworn in for his fourth term on Sunday after winning the presidential election last month with an overwhelming 99% of the vote.
The inauguration took place at a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, attended by several African heads of state and dignitaries.
During the ceremony, Kagame pledged to “preserve peace and national sovereignty, consolidate national unity.”
Kagame, who has ruled Rwanda since the 1994 genocide, secured another five years in power, a result that was widely expected given his iron-fisted control over the nation.
The election raised concerns among rights activists about the state of democracy in Rwanda, as Kagame’s victory margin reflected the limited political competition.
Only two candidates, out of eight applicants, were allowed to run against him, with several prominent critics barred from the race.
The Democratic Green Party’s Frank Habineza came in second with 0.5% of the vote, followed by independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana with 0.32%.
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