Rwanda's Political Landscape Shifts: Seven Parties Unite to Endorse Kagame for Fourth Term

Seven key parties in Rwanda's political scene have united to support President Paul Kagame's bid for a fourth term in office, marking a surprise development in the country's political landscape. This extraordinary display of unity has sparked a great deal of curiosity and conjecture and represents a pivotal point in the political history of the nation.

Paul Kagame's candidacy for president in July is strengthened by the endorsement of two of Rwanda's oldest political parties, the Liberal Party (PL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which together with four smaller parties, the Ideal Democratic Party (PDI), Democratic Union of the Rwandan People's Party (UDPR), Prosperity and Solidarity Party (PSP), and Rwandan Socialist Party (PSR), have formed a coalition.

https://twitter.com/The_EastAfrican/status/1774715250664706150

The prominent positions that the leaders of the Liberal Party (PL) and Social Democratic Party (PSD) hold within the cabinet further demonstrates their longstanding connection with the ruling party. The Speaker of Parliament is none other than Donatille Mukabalisa, the head of the Liberal Party, underscoring the tight relationship and collaboration between these parties and the administration. These links between positions in the administration and party leadership highlight how complex Rwanda's political system is and how cooperative ties have grown over time.
“We endorse President Kagame in developing different sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and security,” Mr Mukabalisa said.

"It is a good thing that President Kagame acknowledges and considers ideas from other political parties," said PSD President and Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, proclaiming his party's support for Kagame.

Since its formation in 1991, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has maintained a robust alliance with the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), which emerged as the political wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA). This relationship blossomed during a critical period in Rwandan history, particularly as the RPA launched a military campaign against President Juvenal Habyarimana's government in 1990, eventually leading to the Rwandan Civil War and the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.

There have been four opportunities for PL and PSD to field presidential candidates: in 2003, 2010, 2017, and 2024. 

In 2010, Prosper Higiro ran for president on the PL ticket, and Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo was the PSD's nominee.

Both Ntawukuriryayo and PL's Higiro politely conceded defeat in spite of their respective election results, demonstrating a dedication to democratic ideals. Since then, they have continued to work with the government, with a PL member leading Parliament and a PSD leader heading the Senate.