Rwanda's Paul Kagame to run for third presidential term

BBC News

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has confirmed that he will seek re-election for a third term in 2017.

The announcement was expected after a referendum approved constitutional changes to allow him to run for three further terms and could potentially see him to stay in power until 2034.

Mr Kagame said Rwandans had made clear they wanted him to lead the country after 2017, and he could only accept.

He has dominated Rwandan politics since his rebel army ended the 1994 genocide.

Last month's referendum result means Mr Kagame can run for a third seven-year term in 2017 and then two further five-year terms.

In a televised New Year's address at midnight (22:00 GMT), the president, 58, said Rwanda did not need a president for life, and that someone else would take over sooner rather than later.

"You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept.

"But I don't think that what we need is an eternal leader," he said.

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionIn a referendum last month, Rwandan voters gave their support to constitutional changes

Part of the president's New Year's message was directed towards his critics abroad, says BBC Africa security correspondent Tomi Oladipo.

He was clearly telling them that democracy was at work in Rwanda and that he was only responding to the people's wishes, our correspondent adds.

The US and the EU have said Mr Kagame should step down in 2017 to allow a new generation of leaders to emerge.

They also denounced the results of the referendum, saying voters were not given enough time to make informed decisions.

President Kagame has received widespread praise for bringing economic development to Rwanda, but critics have also accused him of a heavy-handed rule, our correspondent says.

Rights groups accuse the government of stifling the media and political opposition.

Mr Kagame became acting president in 2000 and was then elected in 2003 and 2010. However, he has effectively held power since 1994, when his rebel force entered the capital, Kigali, to end the country's genocide.

Mr Kagame's announcement comes at a time when two other presidents in the region - of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo - are also seeking third-term extensions.

In Burundi, the president's decision to seek a third term unleashed violent protests, in which at least 100 people have died since April.