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One Dies, Scores Injured As Rwanda Election Campaign Begins

POSTED ON June 24, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame/ Photo credit: Guardian

One person has died and dozens were injured during a crush at an election rally for Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, officials have said.

Campaigning for July's general election began on Saturday, with Mr Kagame holding two rallies in northern Rwanda over the weekend.

The crush which occured late Sunday in Rubavu district, left about 37 people injured, four of whom were hospitalised with serious injuries, a statement from the ministry of local government said.

It apologised to the deceased's family, adding that a medical team on site "did everything possible".

Kagame is running for a fourth term. He has been the country's de facto leader since 1994, when his then rebel group, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, seized power at the end of the genocide directed at members of his Tutsi ethnic group.

He won the last presidential election in 2017 with nearly 99% of the votes.

The 66-year-old president has faced criticism from rights groups for cracking down on the opposition - but he has fierecly defended Rwanda's record on human rights, saying his country respects political freedoms.

After Sunday's stampede, the ministry of local government reminded "those participating in campaign activities... to follow the instructions to ensure the safety and tranquillity of those participating in campaign activities".

On Monday morning, Kagame's RPF-Inkotanyi party said it was "deeply saddened" and sent its condolences to the deceased's family.

"The RPF-Inkotanyi organisation will continue to... closely monitor those injured in the conflict," it said in a statement published on social media.

Kagame will face two other politicians - Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana - in the race to become president.

Rwandans will head to the polls on 15 July to elect their next president and lawmakers.

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