Rwandans Mourn 32 Years of Dictatorship Under Kagame’s Repressive Rule

PORTLAND, Maine — July 4th, 2026 — As President Paul Kagame today hailed the 32nd anniversary of Rwanda’s so-called “Liberation Day,” the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) joins millions of Rwandans in mourning what has become three decades of authoritarian rule, widespread repression, and unfulfilled promises.

In his address, Kagame described the country’s liberation as an “ongoing process,” calling on citizens to safeguard unity and remain vigilant against “divisive ideologies.” For many Rwandans, however, this rhetoric masks a stark reality: a one-man dictatorship where political opposition is systematically crushed, independent media silenced, and state resources captured by a small ruling elite. The tiny elite has grown wealthy, while the majority of Rwandans continue to live in extreme poverty.

“President Kagame routinely claims victory with nearly 99% of the vote in elections that lack credible competition,” said Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa, Former Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defense Forces and co-founder of Rwanda National Congress. “Opposition leaders have been imprisoned, disappeared, exiled, or died under mysterious circumstances. Independent journalists and critics have faced the same fate. This is not liberation — it is tyranny dressed in the language of progress.”

Under Kagame’s Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), the country has become a pariah state on the international stage. The regime faces sanctions from the United States and European Union for its military intervention and plunder in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where millions have died amid ongoing conflict. South Africa expelled Rwandan diplomats and severed ties following assassination attempts targeting Rwandan exiles on their soil.

“The central task before the Rwandan people is to end 32 years of misery, poverty, and fear,” Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa added. “The Rwanda National Congress calls on all democratic forces to unite in our shared goal of restoring genuine freedom, justice, accountability, and the rule of law to our nation.”

About the Rwanda National Congress (RNC)

Founded in 2010, the RNC is a democratic political organization dedicated to promoting peace, unity, freedom, justice, and democracy in Rwanda. The RNC advocates for accountable governance, respect for human rights, national reconciliation, and the establishment of democratic institutions that serve all Rwandans without discrimination.