Rwanda (MNN) ― Sixteen years after the Rwandan genocide that took the lives of an estimated 800,000 people in 100 days, the country celebrates the re-election of President Paul Kagame for a second seven-year term.
With an astounding 93 percent of the vote, however, some have lumped the country with other "democracies," where the vote has been manipulated and citizens experience few freedoms.
Throughout his past term, Kagame has sought to bring peace between the country's Hutu and Tutsi tribes, who have long been at odds.
Yet, his position is similar to Zimbabwe's current leader, Robert Mguabe, who has been in power since 1980 and helped to revolutionize his country. But Mugabe is slow to relinquish his position: he lost the 2008 presidential election but remains co-leader through a power-sharing agreement with Morgan Tsvangirai.
With this new seven-year term, will Kagame follow in the same footsteps, hoping to set himself up as dictator with an authoritarian government?
Evangelist Sammy Tippit recently discussed the matter with Christian leaders in Rwanda, and they all have a positive outlook on the recent elections and victory.
Tippit believes the Kagame landside win is because of the strides he has been taking to unite and stabilize the country: "Probably the reason the election was so lopsided is because it has been peaceful in the country since the genocide, and the people were traumatized... There's been this need for some kind of stability, and I think the president has offered that stability."
Additionally, with the majority of voters being Hutu and Kagame a Tutsi, such a united vote appears to be a large step toward healing for the country.
As for the vote signifying an authoritarian government, Tippit said Rwanda might well need a rigid structure right now until they mature more.
"I think that it's probably a natural part of the process that has to take place. The nation will come to the place where they have to outgrow this style. And that will be a critical moment... It has taken quite some time to get through this whole genocide that has taken place. The stability that has come economically, socially, and between the two tribal factions has been something that probably had to come from some kind of authoritarian-style rule," Tippit said.
When the nation has matured and reached the "critical moment," then, Tippit said, it will be the time for more freedoms.
As with the economy and society in Rwanda, ministry has also seen a period of great openness and stability. If the country continues in its current direction, the circumstances will only improve.
Meanwhile, healing must continue to take place between the two tribes, as it appears Kagame has been stressing. Otherwise, Rwanda will again fall into the cycle of violence and division that has long plagued its history. Tippit said, "If there's not a healing of a generation, this whole thing will rise up again and one group will feel suppressed," and the cycle will continue.
Join Tippit in prayer for Rwanda and for continued progress toward healing, unity, peace, maturity and freedom. Pray that Rwandan Christians will step up and be a light, sharing the hope Christ offers no matter how the government or nation proceeds.
