One person was killed and dozens were injured in a crash at an election rally for Rwandan President Paul Kagame, according to officials.
The incident occurred on Sunday in Rubavu district, where 37 people sustained injuries, with four being hospitalized for serious conditions, as stated by the Ministry of Local Government.
This happened as campaigning for the July general election kicked off on Saturday, with President Kagame hosting two rallies in northern Rwanda over the weekend.
It apologised to the deceased’s family, adding that a medical team on site “did everything possible”.
President Paul Kagame is running for a fourth term. He has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since 1994, when his then-rebel group, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, took power following the genocide against his Tutsi ethnic group.
Kagame won the previous presidential election in 2017 with almost 99% of the vote.
At 66 years old, Kagame has faced criticism from human rights organizations for suppressing the opposition. However, he staunchly defends Rwanda’s human rights record, asserting that the country upholds political freedoms.
After Sunday’s stampede, the ministry of local government reminded “those participating in campaign activities… to follow the instructions given by those in charge to ensure the safety and tranquility of those participating in campaign activities”.
Paul Kagame and his RPF Inkotanyi party have not issued a comment regarding the fatal incident at the rally. However, the party did share a video on Facebook on Monday morning showing Kagame taking the stage at the event.
In the footage, supporters dressed in party colors can be seen dancing, cheering, and waving flags. The party reported that approximately 250,000 people attended the rally.
In the upcoming presidential race, Kagame will be competing against two other candidates: Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.
Diane Rwigara, a vocal critic of Kagame, has been barred from participating in the election.
The electoral commission stated that Rwigara failed to provide the necessary documentation proving she had no criminal record and did not demonstrate sufficient nationwide support to qualify.
Rwigara, who was also disqualified from the 2017 election, has dismissed these claims, asserting that she was unfairly denied the right to campaign.
Rwandans will go to the polls on July 15 to elect their next president and lawmakers.