President Paul Kagame has been re-elected Chairman of the ruling party RPF-Inkotanyi at the 16th national congress that took place at the party’s headquarters in Rusororo, on Sunday, April 2. Kagame was seconded as candidate by Senator Marie-Rose Mureshyankwano, who said the former has proven himself as a selfless leader who has already delivered positive results to the party. He was running against Abdul Karim Harerimana, who announced his own candidacy, saying he had spent enough time with the former during his chairmanship, and would deliver about as much. Out of 2,102 voters, Kagame was elected by 2,099 people, while Harerimana was elected by only three. The elections saw the party get the first woman Vice President since its inception when Consolee Uwimana, endorsed by party elder Tito Rutaremara, was elected by 1,945 votes. Uwimana is the first woman to be elected as the party's number two. The party also elected a new Secretary General, Wellars Gasamagera, who was voted for by 1,899 people. A former senator, Uwimana replaced Christophe Bazivamo while Gasamagera replaced François Ngarambe.
