At the RPF-16th Inkotanyi’s congress, which got under way on Sunday, Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, was convincingly re-elected as the party’s chairman.
According to a Rwandan national daily, the Rwandan president received 2, 999 votes, or 99.8% of the total, whereas Abdulkarim Harelimana, who came in second place, received just 3 votes, or 0.2%. The party’s supporters were thrilled with the outcome.
“I’m very satisfied with the elections, how it went, the results. Especially the re-election of the President of the Republic and President of the RPF, Paul Kagame, who was re-elected by a very large majority of 99.8 percent,” a member of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, Olivier Mugabonake, said.
Kagame, who has served as president of Rwanda for 22 years, will now lead the Rwandan Patriotic Front for a further five years. He has done so since 1998.
Even the Rwandan Patriotic Front’s Alice Urusaro Karekezi wants him to run for president once more.
“It’s true that it’s the work of all Rwandans who have accompanied him in this. But it’s true that the particular character of his leadership has a lot to do with this success. As far as I am concerned, if he runs for a re-election (to the presidency, ed), yes without hesitation.” Karekez said after the announcement of the result.
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the ruling party since the end of the genocide, the 2,000 supporters gathered at the congress in Kigali cast their votes on Sunday.