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President Yoweri Museveni Wednesday joined the long list of African Heads of States congratulating Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame upon his landslide electoral victory in the just-concluded general election.
Mr Museveni joined the likes of William Ruto of Kenya, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau in sending goodwill messages to the veteran Rwandan President, who is embarking on his fourth term after garnering over 99 per cent votes cast, according to partial results released on Monday by the National Electoral Commission.
“Your re-election is a testament to the trust and confidence the people of Rwanda have in your leadership,” President Museveni posted through his official X account on Wednesday evening.
He added; “Uganda recognizes Rwanda as a strategic ally with a shared vision of peace and prosperity. I look forward to collaborating with you for the benefit of our nations and the East African Community.”
Other African Presidents also extended their congratulatory messages to Kagame, wishing him success in his next term at the ‘steering wheel’ of Rwanda’s Presidency. Below are more of the messages from these Presidents.
President Ruto of Kenya: “On behalf of the people and Government of Kenya, I have the pleasure to convey warmest congratulations upon your re-election to serve a further term as President of the Republic of Rwanda.
“We celebrate with you the sovereign choice of the people of Rwanda and wish you success as you continue steering your country in the path of peace, stability and posterity. I look forward to continuing working with you in regional and pan-African affairs in strengthening the bonds of solidarity and fraternity between the peoples of Kenya and Rwanda.”
President Samia of Tanzania posted thus: “On behalf of the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Paul Kagame for being re-elected as the President of the Republic of Rwanda. I look forward to working with you in fostering the relations between our two countries and in the pursuit of East Africa’s unity and prosperity.”
President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique congratulated Kagame, the ruling party and the Rwandan people, “offering our best wishes for success as you assume the new mandate in the position overwhelmingly entrusted to you by the people of Rwanda.”
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau hailed the Rwandan leader on his resounding re-election and wished him “a new mandate strengthened by peace, prosperity and progress.”
Poll Results
By Tuesday evening, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Rwanda had counted 96.6 per cent of the cast votes or 8,761,453 out of 9,071,157. The ruling coalition, RPF-Inkotanyi, had secured 62.67 per cent of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies, according to results released by NEC chair Oda Gasinzigwa.
The tallying of the presidential and parliamentary votes is ongoing and the NEC is expected to announce the provisional results by July 20 and the final results on July 27.
Meanwhile, President Kagame’s two competitors, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana already conceded defeat.
The President said on Monday that he would hit the ground running. “The elections are now behind us, what is left is developing Rwanda,” he told supporters at the RPF headquarters in Kigali after the electoral commission announced partial results showing his resounding victory.