One person has died and dozens were injured during a crush at an election rally for Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, officials say.
Campaigning for July’s general election began on Saturday, with Mr. Kagame holding two rallies in northern Rwanda over the weekend.
The crush occurred on Sunday in Rubavu district, where 37 people were injured, four of whom were hospitalized with serious injuries, according to a statement from the Ministry of Local Government.
The ministry apologized to the deceased’s family, adding that a medical team on-site “did everything possible”.
Mr. Kagame is running for a fourth term. He has been the country’s de facto leader since 1994, when his rebel group, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), seized power at the end of the genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group. He won the last presidential election in 2017 with nearly 99% of the vote.
The 66-year-old president has faced criticism from rights groups for cracking down on the opposition – but he has fiercely defended Rwanda’s record on human rights, stating that his country respects political freedoms.
Following Sunday’s stampede, the Ministry of Local Government reminded “those participating in campaign activities… to follow the instructions given by those in charge to ensure the safety and tranquility of participants”.
Paul Kagame and his RPF Inkotanyi party have not commented on the deadly crush.
However, on Monday morning, RPF Inkotanyi posted a video on Facebook showing Mr. Kagame taking the stage at the rally. Crowds of supporters, dressed in party colors, can be seen dancing, cheering, and waving flags. The party said some 250,000 people attended the rally.
Mr. Kagame will face two other politicians – Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana – in the race for president.
Diane Rwigara, an outspoken critic of Mr. Kagame, was barred from standing in next month’s presidential election.
The electoral commission stated Ms. Rwigara failed to provide the correct documentation to prove she had no criminal record and did not demonstrate enough nationwide support to stand.
Ms. Rwigara, who was also disqualified from the 2017 poll, dismissed these reasons, claiming she had been “cheated” out of her “right to campaign”.
Rwandans will head to the polls on July 15 to elect their next president and lawmakers.
