Rwanda’s leader, who has been in power for two decades, has said he would consider remaining in office for another 20 years.
Paul Kagame, 64, told French TV he would stand for president again at the next election in 2024.
In 2015 he changed the constitution, allowing him to stay until 2034.
In the last presidential election five years ago, official figures showed he won 99% of the vote, which many outside the country dismissed as a sham.
Asked if he would seek re-election, Mr Kagame said: “I would consider running for another 20 years. I have no problem with that.
“Elections are about people choosing.”
President Kagame fiercely defended Rwanda’s record on human rights at a Commonwealth summit in the capital Kigali in June.
Months earlier in April, the UK announced controversial plans to send some asylum seekers who reach its shores to Rwanda for processing there instead.
That was condemned by the UN who likened it to “trading commodities”, but the British prime minister’s office has vowed to press ahead with the policy despite Boris Johnson’s departure.
Mr Kagame himself came to power in 1994 after his rebel forces helped end the genocide.
Since then he has positioned himself as a champion of development, but his opponents say he maintains a tight grip over what is an authoritarian regime. BBC News
![South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets then African Union Chair and Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the eve of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 29 November 2018. [Photo: GCIS]](https://nehandaradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cyril-Ramaphosa-and-Paul-Kagame-GCIS-150x100.webp "Kagame threatens South Africa’s Ramaphosa over DRC intervention")
Joining the club of dictators. No matter how good you’re there’s time to say goodbye. A good dancer leaves the stage whilst the people are still applauding
Majid Zelensky and that time hasn’t come yet
Tafadzwa Tapiwa you never know when it’s gonna come. People can suddenly change that applause to a booing and the reaction usually is to give them a middle finger and that’s when dictatorship starts. Mugabe is a good example. Mnangwagwa came as a hero now he’s giving the majority a middle finger
Majid Zelensky he will say good bye after 20 years,isnt that clear?
Majid Zelensky he is a dictator
He won’t be the first. Until death do him part. They never learn.
George Keith Shamu , in your view winning elections every time is equivalent to dictatorship ,shame!!
Majid Zelensky lt is upto Rwandans, not french tv. How long was Angela Merkel in power? Why didn’t anyoine call her a dictator?
Gibson Chapepe you didn’t read my last statement An election is a way of choosing a leader .How many rigged elections have we had in Africa and even USA because the dancers didn’t want to leave the dance floor when the crowd was still applauding. Check Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea,Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Sudan during Albashir reign.
Pule Senatla Angela Merkel was there for a long and she finally left . Can I also ask you for how many years were Mugabe and ,Dos Santos in power? How many years has the Equatorial Guinea president been in power? These came to power through people’s choice but when they discovered that people were now drifting towards and clapping for the opposition they started to use the iron rod. So many examples to givein Africa including the USA as well
Majid Zelensky , Mugabe never rigged elections , elections are rigged in America and Europe ,not in Africa
Pule Senatla thank you ,you have loads of sense and wisdom
This is the only President who can actually be considered the man for his pple however it’s toxic to remain in power for another 20 years he shud leave office for other younger vibrant pple to do better than what he started
Terrence Tawonezvi what has he done to derseve that?
Zwide Mihha Ndlovu obviously you don follow Rwanda politics and development
Terrence Tawonezvi no he must go please
Zwide Mihha Ndlovu he is the only dictator who has managed to improve the wealth n wellness of his country to the admiration of the West n Africa as a whole. The one whose policies are pple based
Zwide Mihha Ndlovu Transformed Rwanda from the ashes of civil war to jewel of Africa. He is better than Mugabe and Mnangagwa combined
Terrence Tawonezvi do you know it?
Qaphelani Mtimande Ngwenya what is the value of the Rwanda Franc compared to the USD?
Zwide Mihha Ndlovu the reason I commented is bcz I know …if u know smthn else why don you make ur own seperate comment n abandon the arrogance
But this one deserves it. He has my vote.
Bra Willie no bra we need new blood
Bra Willie Nomatter how good u are, there is an expiration date. Any good leader knows when to leave
Norma Musvibe Nhaika? Nomatter how good you can dance, there is time to leave the stage.
Ndimi munokonzeresa madictators. Dictators are dictators coz they have supporters.
Mark Beach Dictators were there before you and l were born
But we enable and prolong their life by voting them
Mark Beach l have never done that in Zim
That’s the problem with African leaders.. They are so obsessed with power
Lucky Basa at least kagame is taking his country forward he is not like our corrupt gangsters
Lucky Basa kutoda kuita firapo😂
Lucky Basa what’s wrong with that. As long he is good to his people he should rule forever. Even Roosevelt in USA tricked American citizens by causing Japan to attack Pearl harbor coz he wanted to stay in power after his term was coming to an end. He ruled USA for more than 2 terms against the Constitution.
As long you are a good leader you should rule for ever and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Ronald Mapfumo I understand u my bro.. But I was talking about African leaders 😏😏
Lucky Basa I’m also talking about African leaders. This President is doing good to his people
Ronald Mapfumo if u are a good leader u shld groom future good leaders. A good dancer shld know when to exit the stage. Holding on to power is a sign of bad leadership. Its like drinking the whole river just to quench your thirst, a small callabash will do. Identify potential leaders who are still youthful and groom them then ritire and become an advisor.
Terrence Chirume I get what you are saying and it’s good. On the other hand it’s also good to keep those ruling in a good way to rule as long as they can coz they are scarce
Yes kagame he is doing well for country.. Unlike our current Government
Ronald Mapfumo that’s not a reason to clinch to power there are also good able people who can do it much better than what you you think is good
Lucky Basa kune kwakucover zvipande uko
Ronald Mapfumo he is not doing good to his people, he is just doing better than Zimbabwe that’s why you’re applauding him… Ruling for 20 years and crashing oppositions isn’t peace to his people… Zvakutoreva kuti youths who are interested in politics has to divert coz hakuna chance ikoko ..
He needs to also try to work on grooming a suitable successor lest his work goes in vain
Bonginkosi Babrah a succesor is chosen by people not by Paul Kagame. I thought you typed knowing what you mean
Bonginkosi Babrah no he needs to instill great democratic systems which can not be challenged
Africa, when they say we are monkeys they meant, we want to have all to ourselves.
African leaders!! All the same.
Soon as he retires …going to jail this one
He deserves
Tavaneushe Colbourne Muchazivepi zvatanga
Tavaneushe Colbourne Muchazivepi why
Onismas Kwaramba he’s a good leader look at what his done for the country
Tavaneushe Colbourne Muchazivepi no that’s his duty but must go time up
Tavaneushe Colbourne Muchazivepi so do most of the potential leaders born in 🇷🇼
This is nonsense. Dont show us yor madness !
He deserves
Master Majumbe Nekuti hapana vamwe here
Tinashe Ncube Ncube unogona murume uyo
Master Majumbe ee anogona but ngaabve kupinde umwe
Tinashe Ncube Ncube hazvina kushata zvakangonakisa,kupanana mikana nema new ideas
Master Majumbe 2 terms ndodzatoda
Tinashe Ncube Ncube true bro
He was good but he will mess it up now
Nyaya hangout pakupinda semaonero angu. Kana munhu achifambisa zvinhu zvakanaka muregei aripo chakaipa ndivana Mugabe nanaED vanouraya nyika takatarisa. Tinoda development tichienda mberi.
Rwanda is blossoming but ko vamwe vanozopindawo rini🤔
Misoro yema Africans inodziya chete varungu havambotore more than 5 yrs why black people tichidaro
Zvatanga
Zvakaitika wani kunoku
Agara achitopenga uyu nxaaa
Hazvina limit here izvi 🤣
He will be like Mugabe
Onthusitse Golang except that Mugabe didn’t develop his country the way President Kagame did. Mugabe put it on its knee.
Michele Steemans he is turning in to a life president, why can’t he give other Rwandan chance to lead, this idea of being a life president must be condemned
Onthusitse Golang but look what he did of Rwanda. Why changing something that works?
As long as he’s doing good for his own people,I don’t mind even he could be a president for life
Ramatee Ranala mmm why
Thts the prblm for African leaders
No Mr kagame
Hopewell Chin’ono’s favourite leader 😂
Bekezela Nyoni kkkkkk ndiye achamubvisa
Pandemic straight