In a statement issued on Saturday, the US condemned Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s announcement he would run for a third term.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the US condemned Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s announcement he would run for a third term.
The statement, issued by Department of State spokesperson John Kirby, noted that the President Kagame’s decision to run for a third term undermined Rwandan democracy.
“President Kagame ignores an historic opportunity to reinforce and solidify the democratic institutions the Rwandan people have for more than twenty years laboured so hard to establish.
“The United States believes constitutional transitions of power are essential for strong democracies and that efforts by incumbents to change rules to stay in power weaken democratic institutions,” Mr. Kirby stated.
President Kagame recently held a referendum allowing him to run for a third term. On New Year's Day he announced he would be running in 2017.