Critic of Rwandan president excluded from presidential race

Rwanda’s electoral body has banned Diane Rwigara, an outspoken critic of President Kagame, from running in next month’s presidential election.

Only Mr Kagame and two other politicians – Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana – were exonerated by the electorate.

Ms. Rwigara, leader of the People’s Salvation Movement (PSM), was also disqualified from the 2017 vote. She took to X, formerly Twitter, to express her disappointment in Mr. Kagame.

“Why don’t you let me run?”This is the second time you have deprived me of my right to campaign,” she said.

“I represent the vast majority of Rwandans who live in fear and are not allowed to be free in their own country,” she added.