Rwandan President Paul Kagame has announced for the first time that he intends to seek a fourth term in next year's elections.
"Yes, I am indeed a candidate," Kagame, who has ruled the country with an iron grip for decades, told Jeune Afrique, a French-language news magazine, in an online interview on Tuesday.
"I am grateful for Rwandans' trust in me." "I will always serve them as long as I am able," the 65-year-old said.
The Rwandan government agreed in March to synchronize the dates of its legislative and presidential elections, which are scheduled for August of next year.
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Kagame had previously publicly stated his intentions, but in 2015, he presided over contentious constitutional reforms that allowed him to seek further terms and remain in power until 2034.
Kagame, a former rebel chief, became president in April 2000 but has been recognized as the country's de facto leader since the 1994 genocide's end.
In 2003, 2010, and 2017 elections, he was re-elected with more than 90% of the vote. While Rwanda claims to be one of Africa's most stable countries, rights groups accuse Kagame of leading in an environment of fear, limiting dissent and free expression.
