KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | The East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc, launched its election observer mission Friday to monitor Rwanda’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. Veronica Mueni Nduva, secretary general of the EAC, inaugurated the observer mission in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, where she appointed David Maraga, former …
Read More »On Kagame’s campaign trail
Why Rwanda’s election campaigns are different and what others can learn from it THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | I am in Rwanda for the presidential election campaigns. The campaigns here are different. There are no billboards everywhere of candidates and posters do not litter city walls and buildings. Rallies are …
Read More »Rwanda, 30 years later
What the July 15 presidential elections tell us about how Rwandan citizens view President Kagame THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Yesterday Rwanda celebrated its 30th year since liberation. It has been an incredible journey. In 1994, no one gave this country a chance. The state had been dismembered, the economy …
Read More »Rwanda celebrates 30th liberation anniversary with President Kagame highlighting unity, progress
KIGALI | Xinhua | Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. The event, known locally as Kwibohora, commemorates the end of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, a tragic event that claimed more than one …
Read More »Stampede at political rally leaves 1 dead, 37 injured in western Rwanda
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | One person was killed and 37 others injured in a stampede at a political rally Sunday in western Rwanda, the government has said. The stampede occurred when people tried to exit from a venue where President Paul Kagame, the candidate for the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front, …
Read More »Campaigns begin ahead of presidential, legislative polls in Rwanda
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | Campaigning started Saturday in Rwanda ahead of next month’s presidential and legislative elections. Three presidential candidates are in the race including incumbent President Paul Kagame of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Philippe Mpayimana, …
Read More »Rwanda’s ruling party to launch presidential campaigns in northern province
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | Rwanda’s ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), on Friday announced that their presidential candidate, incumbent President Paul Kagame, will commence his campaign in Musanze district, northern Province. “RPF is ready to participate in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. Our party’s presidential candidate will …
Read More »Kagame accuses West of double standards on democracy ahead of elections
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday accused Western countries of adopting “double standards” on democracy, ahead of next month’s general elections in the East African country. Kagame, who has been president of Rwanda since 2000, was responding to a question about critics who accuse him …
Read More »Rwanda receives 113 asylum seekers evacuated from Libya
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | Rwanda said it received 113 asylum seekers evacuated from Libya late Thursday, the government announced. The evacuees include individuals from South Sudan, Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire and Somalia, the Rwandan Ministry in charge of Emergency Management said in a statement. The evacuees, who arrived …
Read More »Rwanda rejects allegations that it endangers asylum seekers
KIGALI, Rwanda | Xinhua | Rwanda on Tuesday denied allegations that it is endangering the lives of asylum seekers, accusing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of “fabricating” claims aimed at undermining the country’s welcoming policy. This came after the UN Refugee Agency warned British judges it may …
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