Rwandan President Paul Kagame has announced his intention to compete for a fourth term in the presidential election next year.
“Yes, I am indeed a candidate,” Mr Kagame told French-language magazine Jeune Afrique on Tuesday.
Asked about what the West would think about his decision to run again, Mr Kagame said, “I’m sorry for the West, but what the West thinks is not my problem”.
“I am happy with the confidence that the Rwandans have in me. I will always serve them, as much when I can.”
After 23 years in charge, Mr Kagame joked in April that he was looking forward to retiring and giving over control.
In April, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), the country’s ruling party, maintained Mr Kagame as its head. He has been the party’s leader since 1998.
Mr. Kagame has served as the East African country’s president since 2000. A contentious vote in 2015 repealed the constitutional limit of two terms for presidents.
He received 98.8% of the vote in the most recent election in 2017.
Rwanda has enjoyed relative political stability under President Kagame, but opponents and human rights groups accuse his administration of restricting political liberties and stifling dissent.
