World leaders flock to Rwanda as Kagame begins new term
A gathering of world leaders took place at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Sunday, August 11, as President Paul Kagame was inaugurated for a new five-year term following a landslide victory in Rwanda’s presidential election.
Among the distinguished guests were at least 22 Heads of State, four Vice-Presidents, two Prime Ministers, one Deputy Prime Minister, and two Speakers of Parliament. Additionally, five leaders from international and regional organisations were in attendance.
The crowd at Amahoro Stadium, comprising thousands of Rwandans and international friends, erupted in applause as President Kagame and the First Lady made their entrance.
President Kagame’s re-election on July 14-15 saw him secure more than 99% of the vote, defeating Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Philipe Mpayimana.
Dignitaries in attendance included President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, and King Mswati III of Eswatini. Other prominent leaders such as President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic, and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, were also present.
The ceremony also welcomed Presidents Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, João Lourenço of Angola, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles, and Mamady Doumbouya of Guinea, among others.
Here are some tweets contextualising the ceremony:
