00:00 The announcement of Paul Kagame running for re-election went quite unnoticed in Rwanda
00:04 as local media barely highlighted the discreet passage in President Kagame's interview
00:08 in the French magazine Jeune Afrique.
00:10 And in Kigali, this comes as no surprise to anyone.
00:14 Last April, Kagame was re-elected as the head of his party, the RPF, with 99% of the votes.
00:21 This same score was also seen in the last presidential election in 2017, marking the
00:26 beginning of his third term after amending the constitution in 2015 to allow for his
00:32 re-election.
00:33 This change was implemented following a referendum approved by Rwandans with 98% support.
00:40 This long stay in power exceeding 20 years has always been criticised by his opponents,
00:45 NGOs and Western diplomats.
00:47 Kagame responded to this during the same interview, saying, and I quote, "Sorry for the West,
00:55 but what these countries think is not a problem."
00:58 And of quote, the head of state is expected to face, among others, Frank Abineza from
01:03 the Green Party, considered the only authorised opposition party in the country.
01:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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