The United States is “deeply disappointed” by the decision of Paul Kagame, who announced Thursday his intention to run for a third mandate. The State Department has released a statement in which Washington expresses its disapproval after the decision.
“President Kagame missed a historic opportunity to strengthen democratic institutions for which the Rwandan people fought for 20 years …” The reaction of the United States is clear, Washington does not approve the decision of the Rwandan president to run for a third mandate.The release of the State Department reminds the American position: “Washington believes that political changes are essential to consolidate democracies,” and expressed concern “facing changes that aim to serve an individual at the expense of the principle of free elections “. The constitutional revision that will allow Paul Kagame to remain in power for 17 more years, angered Washington.
And if President Kagame supports the United States, it also has active critics in Congress. Ed Royce, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives is one of them. It calls for months at the State Department to introduce sanctions against the Rwandan government that it considers as an obstacle to democracy and freedom of expression.
