Mr Kagame, 64, has been in power for over two decades, contesting and winning three presidential elections in 2000, 2010 and 2017.
Rwanda president Paul Kagame says he would seek re-election in 2024 as he considers staying in office for the next 20 years.
“I would consider running for another 20 years. I have no problem with that. Elections are about people choosing,” Mr Kagame said.
The Rwandan leader disclosed this in an interview with France 24 when asked if he would seek re-election.
Mr Kagame, 64, has been in power for over two decades, contesting and winning three presidential elections in 2000, 2010 and 2017.
Rwanda’s next election in 2024 would be his fourth time of contesting presidential election. He had changed the Rwandan constitution in 2015, allowing him till 2034.
Should Mr Kagame remain in office for another 20 years as he said, he would be 84 years old, ruling Rwanda for over 40 years.
Mr Kagame and his party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, have been criticised by people, most especially Amnesty International, for being repressive and intolerant of the opposition.
Amnesty’s Regional Director for East Africa, Muthoni Wanyeki, says “Since the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front took power 23 years ago, Rwandans have faced huge, and often deadly, obstacles to participating in public life and voicing criticism of government policy. The climate in which the upcoming elections take place is the culmination of years of repression.”
