Rwandan Parliament members have released a statement concerning their recent vote to back incumbent President Paul Kagame for a third term in 2017, citing the “pointed progress under the current leadership.”
Rwandan Parliament members have released a statement concerning their recent vote to back incumbent President Paul Kagame for a third term in 2017, citing the “pointed progress under the current leadership.”
More than 3.7 million Rwandan citizens signed a petition asking Parliament to amend the constitution to change the presidential two-term limit and support an additional term for the office. Despite the approval from Parliament, there will be a referendum to approve the legislative move.
In the press release, Parliament listed President Kagame’s accomplishments, including “lifting one million people out of poverty” and “achieving unity and reconciliation as well as the security and stability that defines Rwanda today.”
The President of the Rwandan Senate, Makuza Bernard, showed his support to remove term limits while also seeing to it that the matter is put to a popular referendum.
"As members of Parliament we represent the people[,] and there is no way we can ignore their voices. After we approved the relevance of their request we will embark on a nationwide consultation to give voice to all Rwanda," the statement said.
President Kagame has been in office since 2000. He previously commanded the rebel force that ended the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. He has since then been considered Rwanda's de facto leader, serving as Vice President and Minister of Defence from 1994 to 2000.
In late 2014, the Kagame-led government suspended the Kinyarwanda BBC radio service in response to the news organization’s documentary about the 1994 genocide in the country.
Kagame said that he will let the Rwandan people decide for themselves who will be their next president. Activists groups have accused the President and Rwandan authorities of quieting opposition parties and shutting down the media.
The Green Party, who was against the amendment, suggested that a presidential term be changed from seven years to four years. The Party has until July 29th to find a lawyer to represent the case at the Supreme Court.