Kagame takes oath of office, calling for unity

Rwanda's incumbent President Paul Kagame was sworn in on Friday as the country's first democratically elected president since the tiny central African nation gained independence from Belgium in 1962. Leaders from nine African nations were present for the inauguration, held in a sports stadium in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, with an estimated 30,000 people in attendance. Kagame, a Tutsi, won a landslide victory in a presidential election on 25 August with 95 percent of the vote against two Hutu candidates. His party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, hailed the victory as proof that ethnic-based divisions had been overcome in Rwanda. Some 800,000 Tutsis and politically-moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu extremists in Rwanda's 1994 genocide. "I, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, swear to respect the constitution and work with my whole heart for the unity of Rwandans," he said. While delivering his message, Kagame, 46, promised to improve the justice system, boost the economy and continue to build the unity of Rwandans. "We have built the foundation, now is the time to redouble our efforts to fulfil our pledges in the next seven years and beyond," he said. "We shall institutionalise fairness and justice for all our citizens, for they are the pillars of the new democratic order." Among the African heads of state in attendance were South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. It was the first time that Museveni had visited Kigali since the two former allies clashed repeatedly in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a war that erupted in August 1998 and which was ostensibly brought to an end with the inauguration on 30 June of a transitional national government. Diplomats in Kigali hailed Museveni's presence, describing it as a significant step in reshaping relations between the two countries. "This is definitely a step in the right direction. It is an indication that peace-building initiatives are bearing fruit," one diplomat told IRIN. Kagame, who was vice-president and defence minister from 1994, was chosen to serve as Rwanda's president by members of parliament in 2000. He won a popular mandate in August's presidential poll.