[wanabidii] Press Releases: Reaction to Rwandan President's Decision To Run for Third Term

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: Reaction to Rwandan President's Decision To Run for Third Term 01/02/2016 06:09 PM EST Reaction to Rwandan President's Decision To Run for Third Term Press Statement John Kirby Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs Washington, DC January 2, 2016 The United States is deeply disappointed that President Paul Kagame has announced his intention to run for a third term in office. With this decision, President Kagame ignores an historic opportunity to reinforce and solidify the democratic institutions the Rwandan people have for more than twenty years labored so hard to establish. The United States believes constitutional transitions of power are essential for strong democracies and that efforts by incumbents to change rules to stay in power weaken democratic institutions. We are particularly concerned by changes that favor one individual over the principle of democratic transitions. As Rwanda moves toward local elections this year, presidential elections next year, and parliamentary elections in 2018, we call upon the Government of Rwanda to ensure and respect the rights of its citizens to exercise their freedom of expression, conscience, and peaceful assembly -- the hallmarks of true democracies. The United States remains committed to supporting the free and full participation of the Rwandan people in the electoral processes ahead. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:       External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520

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