President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has declared that he will stand for reelection a fourth time in 2019.
“Yes, I am indeed a candidate,” Mr Kagame told French-language magazine Jeune Afrique on Tuesday.
Asked about what the West would think about his decision to run again, Mr Kagame said, “I’m sorry for the West, but what the West thinks is not my problem.
“I am happy with the confidence that the Rwandans have in me. I will always serve them, as much when I can.”
In April, President Kagame made a lighthearted remark about looking forward to retirement after 23 years in office, but the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), the country’s ruling party, reelected him as its chairman. Mr. Kagame has been at the helm of the party since 1998 and has served as the President of Rwanda since 2000.
In 2015, a controversial referendum removed the constitutional limit of two seven-year terms for presidents, replacing it with two five-year terms. However, this change allowed Mr. Kagame to run for another seven-year term, with the alterations set to take effect in 2024. He secured victory in the last election in 2017, winning with 98.8% of the vote.
During President Kagame’s tenure, Rwanda has experienced relative political stability, but critics and human rights organizations have accused his government of restricting political freedoms and suppressing dissent.