President Ruto Joins African Leaders in Kigali for Kagame’s Fourth Term Swearing-In
President William Ruto departed Kenya on Sunday to attend the inauguration of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, marking the beginning of Kagame’s fourth term in office.
The ceremony in Kigali will be graced by several African leaders, as 23 heads of state are expected to witness this significant event. Among those who have already arrived in Kigali are South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Gabon’s Oligui Nguema, Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo, the Central African Republic’s Faustin-Archange Touadéra, and Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé.
Kagame, who has been a de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide and the official president since 2000, was declared the winner of Rwanda’s July 15, 2024, elections, securing an overwhelming 99.15% of the vote.
President Ruto’s attendance at this inauguration follows a two-month hiatus from international trips, during which he focused on local matters amidst political unrest in Kenya.
The protests, sparked by opposition to the Finance Bill 2024, led Ruto to take drastic measures, including dismissing his entire Cabinet and implementing austerity measures aimed at stabilizing the country.
This visit to Rwanda marks Ruto’s first international engagement since the domestic turmoil began, signaling a potential shift in focus back to regional diplomacy and international relations.
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President Ruto Joins African Leaders in Kigali for Kagame’s Fourth Term Swearing-In
