One person was killed and dozens were injured during a crush at an election rally for Rwandan President Paul Kagame, officials say.
Campaigning for July’s general elections began on Saturday, with Kagame holding two rallies in northern Rwanda this weekend.
The clash took place on Sunday in Rubavu district, where 37 people were injured, four of whom were hospitalized with serious injuries, a statement from the ministry of local government said.
It apologized to the family of the deceased and added that a medical team at the scene “did everything possible.”
Mr Kagame is running for a fourth term. He has been the country’s de facto leader since 1994, when his then-rebel group, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, seized power at the end of the genocide targeting members of his Tutsi ethnic group.
He won the last presidential election in 2017 with almost 99% of the vote.
The 66-year-old president has been criticized by rights groups for a crackdown on the opposition, but he has fiercely defended Rwanda’s human rights record and said his country respects political freedoms.
After Sunday’s stampede, the local government ministry reminded “those participating in campaign activities… to follow the instructions of those in charge to ensure the safety and tranquility of those participating in campaign activities.”
Paul Kagame and his RPF Inkotanyi party have not commented on the deadly crush.
However, on Monday morning, RPF Inotanyi posted a video on Facebook of Mr Kagame taking the stage at the rally. Crowds of supporters, decked out in festive colours, can be seen dancing, cheering and waving flags. According to the party, about 250,000 people were present.
Kagame will face two other politicians – Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana – in the race to become president.
Diane Rwigara, an outspoken critic of Kagame, was banned from running in next month’s presidential election.
The election commission said Ms Rwigara had failed to provide proper documentation proving she had no criminal record and had not shown she had enough support nationally to stand.
Ms Rwigara, who was also disqualified from the 2017 elections, rejected these reasons, saying her “right to campaign” had been “cheated”.
Rwandans will go to the polls on July 15 to elect their next president and lawmakers.
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