On August 11, President Paul Kagame was officially sworn in as Rwanda’s Head of State, marking the start of his new five-year term (2024-2029). The ceremony took place at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, where tens of thousands of Rwandans and international guests gathered to witness the event.
This new term is notable as it is Kagame’s first five-year term, following the 2017 revision of the Rwandan Constitution.
The 45,000-seat stadium was filled to capacity with attendees, including Rwandans from across the country and leaders from around the world. Among the international guests were 22 Heads of State, four Vice Presidents, two Prime Ministers, and other dignitaries.
The inauguration was marked by a grand display of military and cultural pride. The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) performed a military parade, and the event included a 21-gunfire salute in honour of Kagame as the Commander-in-Chief. Four military helicopters flew over the stadium, carrying the Rwandan flag and the RDF flag.
The national cultural troupe “Urukurereza”, along with various local artists, provided cultural and musical performances.
Chief Justice Faustin Nteziryayo administered the Presidential Oath, in line with the Rwandan Constitution. During the oath, Kagame pledged to remain loyal to Rwanda, defend the Constitution and laws, fulfil his responsibilities, preserve peace and national sovereignty, and consolidate national unity.
Following the oath, Kagame received symbolic instruments of power. These included a copy of the Constitution, the national flag, and the coat of arms. General Mubarakh Muganga, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, presented Kagame with a shield and sword, symbols of national defence, signifying the official start of his new term as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief.
In his inaugural speech, President Kagame expressed deep gratitude to Rwandans for their trust, stating that “It is an honour to serve as your President for another term.”
He also thanked the international dignitaries in attendance, particularly the Heads of State, acknowledging their support during Rwanda’s 30-year journey of rebuilding.
Reflecting on the recent electoral campaign, Kagame described it as a period of joy and satisfaction for Rwandans.
“There is a much deeper meaning behind what all of us saw and experienced. That reality is undeniable; it stems from the spirit of togetherness among Rwandans, as well as a shared determination to be the owners of our future. This is exactly what we have been working for all of these years.”
Kagame also spoke about the remarkable progress Rwanda has made over the past three decades, surpassing expectations given the country’s tragic past.
“Over the past three decades”, he noted “what Rwandans have managed to accomplish is even more than we expected. Indeed, it is beyond what words can describe, given where we started from. Our tragic past ignited a fire in each one of us: a fire of hope, resilience, and justice. This is who we have become as Rwandans.”
Regional peace is a priority for Rwanda and beyond
In his speech, Kagame underlined the importance of peace, particularly in the region, which has been lacking, especially in eastern DR Congo. He stressed that peace cannot be imposed from outside but must be pursued by those directly involved.
“But peace cannot be delivered by anyone from anywhere, no matter how powerful, if the party most directly concerned does not do what is needed. Without that, the sincere mediation efforts by the mandated regional leaders cannot work as intended.”
“It should be understood as a necessity, because it is a question of people’s rights and there cannot be real peace if those rights are not respected. You can’t wake up one day and decide to deny whoever you want their citizenship rights and expect to get away with it. There has to be a meeting in the middle. There has to be a compromise.”
Kagame reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Rwandans live safe, healthy, and dignified lives, a responsibility he sees as non-negotiable.
He noted: “Like everyone else, what matters most to us is to see our people living safe, healthy, and dignified lives. This is imperative, and it is a responsibility that we cannot evade or outsource.”
He concluded his speech by acknowledging the collective effort needed to continue building the nation.
“Our focus now returns to the future. For the last thirty years, our country has been a good work-in-progress. This new mandate means the beginning of even more hard work,” he stated.
Within 15 days of his inauguration, President Kagame is expected to appoint the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will then assist in forming the rest of the cabinet within the next 15 days.
