Over a dozen African heads of state and leaders have arrived in Rwanda’s capital Kigali ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Paul Kagame scheduled for Friday.
Among the heads of state present are presidents Faustin Archange Touadera of the Central African Republic, Brahim Ghali of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger.
The Prime Minister of São Tomé and PrÃncipe, Patrice Emery Trovoada is also representing his country for the swearing-in including the Vice-President of Ivory Coast, Daniel Kablan Duncan; and Acting Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat also arrived in Kigali on Thursday with former Botswana President Festus Mogae and former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa.
The Speaker of Parliament of Equatorial Guinea, Gaudencio Mohaba Mesu also arrived early as well as the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Habib El Malki and the Speaker of Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo Aubin Minaku.
President Touadera arriving at the airport. Several African heads of state will attend the inauguration ceremony at Amahoro Stadium
The President of Niger just arrived at Kigali International Airport for the inauguration ceremony #Rwanda
The latest head of state to arrive for the swearing in of President @PaulKagame is Zambia’s Edgar Lungu
President Macky Sall of Senegal has also arrived a day before the swearing in of President #Kagame
President Sasou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo has also arrived at Kigali International Airport #KagameInauguration
The dignitaries will witness the swearing-in of Paul Kagame on Friday at the Amahoro National Stadium for his third term of office.
Kagame won the August 4 presidential elections after garnering 98.7% of the votes against main opposition party leader Frank Habineza and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana who performed poorly in the polls.
The result was not different from what Kagame secured in the 2003 and 2010 polls after he became president in 2000 following the resignation of his predecessor Pasteur Bizimungu.
Paul Kagame will serve another seven-year term.