Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, re-emerged in public on Tuesday, meeting with former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo, amid swirling rumours about his health following a notable absence from public events.
Kagame, 67, had not appeared in public since June 6, according to activity on his official X account.
The gap had sparked speculation both online and within Rwanda, where the president is known for his frequent and active public presence.
Putting an end to the speculation, Kagame’s office shared images of his meeting with Obasanjo, who is involved in mediation efforts over the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda has faced accusations of supporting rebel groups fighting the Congolese government in the region.
A statement accompanying the pictures read, “This afternoon at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame received former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is serving as one of the facilitators of the merged Luanda-Nairobi peace process for eastern DRC.
“They discussed the situation in the region, along with various key issues of continental and global significance. The two leaders shared insights on pathways toward stability, cooperation, and progress.”
Kagame remains a polarizing figure within Rwanda. While many hail him as a transformative leader who steered the country to stability and growth, critics view him as an authoritarian who clamps down on dissent.
He has effectively led Rwanda since the end of the 1994 genocide, when he spearheaded a military campaign that toppled the genocidal Hutu regime responsible for the massacre of over 800,000 people, mainly from the Tutsi minority.
Kagame secured a fourth term in office last year with over 99 percent of the vote, a result that drew criticism from international observers and opposition groups.
Adding fuel to the health rumours, a Rwandan opposition figure based in Canada recently claimed the president was receiving treatment for a “brain injury” in Germany.
However, a German diplomatic official told AFP there was no confirmation or information regarding such a claim.
In response to the speculation, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told Taarifa, a local media outlet, “There is nothing to be worried or concerned about.”
An unnamed family member also reassured the public, telling Taarifa, “He is a human being, and like anyone else, he takes time to rest. There is nothing unusual or alarming.”
Meanwhile, the Rwandan military denounced a statement circulating online, allegedly from them, suggesting Kagame was in a severe medical condition, dismissing it in a post on X as “fake.”
