Kagame presents his candidacy for July 15 presidential election
Rwanda’s incumbent President Paul Kagame Friday presented his candidacy for the July 15 presidential polls, as formal candidature submissions commenced at the country’s electoral body in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.
Kagame, a candidate of the ruling party, Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), was received by Oda Gasinzigwa, the Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission.
He was accompanied by Wellars Gasamagera, the party’s Secretary General, First Lady Jeannette Kagame and other senior party cadres.
“I’m back in the race,” Kagame said while handing over a file of his nomination papers to the commission chairperson.
To be eligible to run for presidency the candidate must not hold any other nationality other than Rwandan among other qualifications.
Earlier this year, RPF-Inkotanyi nominated Kagame as its presidential candidate after being endorsed by the party's congress in March.
Aspirants for the positions of president and members of parliament have until May 30 to present their candidatures, according to the commission’s electoral calendar.
Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on July 15.
Kagame has been president of Rwanda since 2000.
A total of 9.5 million Rwandans are eligible to vote in the presidential and parliamentary election, according to the country's electoral body.
