President Paul Kagame was on Sunday August 11, 2024, sworn-into office for a five-year mandate as the President of the Republic of Rwanda in a celebratory atmosphere in the capital, Kigali, following a landslide victory in last month's presidential election.

Several leaders including 22 Heads of State, four Vice Presidents, two Prime Ministers, two Speakers of Parliament, five Heads of international and regional organisations, and three former Heads of State attended the inauguration ceremony in a packed 45,000-seater Amahoro National Stadium.

Among the leaders were H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, H.E Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and Vice-President of Côte d'Ivoire, Tiemoko Meyliet Koné who all joined the many of thousands of Rwandans for this historical moment in Rwanda's continuing transformation journey.

President Kagame took the oath of office before Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo amid cheers and thunderous applause.

In his inauguration speech, President Kagame  pledged to preserve peace and national sovereignty, and to consolidate national unity.

“Throughout our campaign here, it was always humbling to hear the slogan “Ni wowe”, meaning “It’s you”. But actually, in reality, it is not me alone, ni mwebwe, ni twese — it’s all of us.

“Our focus now returns to the future. For the last thirty years, our country has been a good work-in-progress. This new mandate means the beginning of even more hard work.

“Why not do even better than we have done? That expectation to keep improving is not a dream, it is realistic. We can do it, and we will do it.

“Above all, we will be together, and I thank you once again for renewing the privilege to serve our country.

“Rather than leaving behind new divisions to be healed, our political process is designed to renew and deepen our unity.

“Over the past three decades, what Rwandans have managed to accomplish, is even more than we expected.

“Indeed, it is beyond what words can describe, given where we started from. Our tragic past ignited a fire in each of us. One of hope, resilience, and justice. This is who we have become as Rwandans,” President Kagame said.

Rwanda’s transformation journey has been phenomenal over the past 30 years, drawing admiration the world over.

Under the leadership of President Kagame, Rwanda has risen from a tragic past and forged a path towards prosperity, unity and innovation.