Rwanda: Pressured Kagame Faces Re-Election

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame – who has held power for 30 years – is heading towards a fourth term in today's presidential election. At the same time, criticism is growing against the regime's involvement in the conflict in eastern Congo-Kinshasa.

» Updated: October 04 2024

» Published: July 15 2024

Rwanda: Pressured Kagame Faces Re-Election
Photo: Brian Inganga/AP/TT

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame – who has held power for 30 years – is heading for a fourth term in today's presidential election. At the same time, criticism is growing against the regime's involvement in the conflict in eastern Congo-Kinshasa.

Everything suggests that 66-year-old Kagame will cement his position of power in Rwanda. The latest, strongly disputed presidential election in 2017 resulted in alleged support of 98.8 percent for Kagame, whose party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR), has dominated politics since the genocide in 1994.

But the situation in the conflict-ridden neighboring country of Congo-Kinshasa is becoming increasingly problematic for Kagame. When the UN's special envoy Bintou Keita visited the region last week, she accused Rwanda of having "strengthened its support" for the Tutsi-led rebel group M23. The group has taken control of large parts of North Kivu Province in eastern Congo and driven hundreds of thousands of people to flee.

According to a UN report obtained by AFP, there is evidence that Rwanda has sent between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers across the border. The Rwandan army is also accused of recruiting child soldiers.

Tensions traced back to the genocide

Ever since M23 launched its invasion in 2021, rumors of Rwanda's involvement have been circulating. The UN has repeatedly accused the Rwandan army of providing the rebel group with war equipment, which Rwanda denies.

The background to the tensions between the neighboring countries can be traced back to the genocide in 1994 when more than 800,000 people – mostly Tutsis – were killed in just three months. The defeated Hutu militia was forced out by Kagame's Tutsi army, and many of them fled to Congo. Rwanda's government claims that the neighboring country is protecting war criminals by supporting several Hutu-led militia groups in the area.

More than a hundred armed groups are said to be fighting in eastern Congo-Kinshasa, an area rich in natural resources.

"De facto" control over M23

The UN states that Rwanda's government "de facto" has control over M23, which could be grave for President Kagame.

Rwanda's leader has long had good relations with both the US and Europe, but the West has increasingly begun to question Kagame's authoritarian rule. The allegations of what some describe as an "invasion" of eastern Congo-Kinshasa could worsen Rwanda's international relations, according to several analysts.

The EU is financing, among other things, Rwandan forces fighting Islamist jihadists in northern Mozambique. A proposal for further financing has been temporarily stopped due to Rwanda's support for M23, writes Africa Intelligence.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Suspected Worst Rapist in UK
1 MIN READ

Suspected Worst Rapist in UK History Faces New Allegations

Liberal Judge Susan Crawford Wins
1 MIN READ

Liberal Judge Susan Crawford Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Seat

Man Rescued Alive in Myanmar
1 MIN READ

Man Rescued Alive in Myanmar Five Days After Earthquake

Israel Intensifies Gaza Offensive, Targets
2 MIN READ

Israel Intensifies Gaza Offensive, Targets Southern Regions

Frederiksen Visits Greenland as Concerns
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Visits Greenland as Concerns Over US Interest Persist

China Conducts Extensive Military Drills
1 MIN READ

China Conducts Extensive Military Drills Near Taiwan's Coast

White House Evaluates Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

White House Evaluates Economic Impact of Potential Greenland Acquisition

WWII Codebreaker Charlotte Webb, Honored
2 MIN READ

WWII Codebreaker Charlotte Webb, Honored by Queen, Dies at 101

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev to Meet
1 MIN READ

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev to Meet US Officials in Washington Talks

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Russian Drone Strikes in Ukraine Leave One Dead, Injure Several

Cory Booker's 25-Hour Senate Speech
3 MIN READ

Cory Booker's 25-Hour Senate Speech Sets Record in Trump Protest

Trump Adviser Faces Scrutiny Over
2 MIN READ

Trump Adviser Faces Scrutiny Over Private Email Use in Security Role

Zelenskyj Seeks Support for Potential
1 MIN READ

Zelenskyj Seeks Support for Potential Peacekeeping Forces in Ukraine

Denmark Sets 18-Year Age Limit
1 MIN READ

Denmark Sets 18-Year Age Limit for High-Alcohol Drinks

Le Pen Awaits Appeal Verdict
2 MIN READ

Le Pen Awaits Appeal Verdict on 2027 Election Ban Next Summer

Fourth Missing US Soldier Found
1 MIN READ

Fourth Missing US Soldier Found Dead in Lithuania

Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine Slow for Fourth Month

Bird Flu Outbreak Hits Danish
1 MIN READ

Bird Flu Outbreak Hits Danish Farm, 24 Chickens Culled

23 States Sue Trump Administration
2 MIN READ

23 States Sue Trump Administration Over Health Funding Cuts

Europol Set for Expansion in
1 MIN READ

Europol Set for Expansion in New EU Security Strategy

Search Continues for Missing Plane
1 MIN READ

Search Continues for Missing Plane in Norway with Two Feared Dead

Trump's First Foreign Trip as
1 MIN READ

Trump's First Foreign Trip as President: Saudi Arabia and Beyond

Danish Police Arrest 10 Bandidos
1 MIN READ

Danish Police Arrest 10 Bandidos Gang Members at Sejet Inn

German EU Politician Faces Probe
1 MIN READ

German EU Politician Faces Probe Over Controversial Nazi Greeting Post

EU Eyes Boosting Eastern Infrastructure
1 MIN READ

EU Eyes Boosting Eastern Infrastructure for Defense and Development

23 States Sue Trump Administration
2 MIN READ

23 States Sue Trump Administration Over $11 Billion Health Cuts

Israel Sets Record for Palestinian
3 MIN READ

Israel Sets Record for Palestinian Home Demolitions in West Bank

Red Cross Faces Deadliest Attack
2 MIN READ

Red Cross Faces Deadliest Attack in Eight Years During Gaza Conflict

Georgia Approves US-Inspired Agent Law
1 MIN READ

Georgia Approves US-Inspired Agent Law After Criticism

Scottish Fisherman Missing Since 2021
1 MIN READ

Scottish Fisherman Missing Since 2021 Identified on Norwegian Coast

Ukraine Election Preparations Denied by
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Election Preparations Denied by Zelenskyj's Party Leader

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Norwegian Man Gets Life for Murdering Finnish Hockey Star Janne Puhakka

Denmark Sees Highest Wolf Population
1 MIN READ

Denmark Sees Highest Wolf Population in Modern History

USA and Ukraine Resume Talks
1 MIN READ

USA and Ukraine Resume Talks on Key Mineral Agreement

Finland Prepares to Exit Ottawa
1 MIN READ

Finland Prepares to Exit Ottawa Treaty on Personal Mines

Denmark Boosts Defense with 130
1 MIN READ

Denmark Boosts Defense with 130 New Armored Vehicles from Finland

Media Worker Killed in Gaza
1 MIN READ

Media Worker Killed in Gaza as Evacuations Ordered in the North

Palestinian Teen Dies in Israeli
2 MIN READ

Palestinian Teen Dies in Israeli Prison After Six Months Without Charge

Bardella Slams Le Pen Verdict
1 MIN READ

Bardella Slams Le Pen Verdict as Politically Driven in EU Funds Case

Iceland's Grindavík Evacuated as Lava
2 MIN READ

Iceland's Grindavík Evacuated as Lava Flows from New Eruption