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August 16, 2010

White House Expresses Concern over Election in Rwanda
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The Obama administration has expressed concern about last week’s
presidential election in Rwanda in which the US-backed incumbent Paul
Kagame drew 93 percent of the votes. In a statement, the National
Security Council outlined what it described as a series of "disturbing
events" prior to the election, including the suspension of two
newspapers, the expulsion of a human rights researcher, the barring of
two opposition parties from taking part in the election, and the arrest
of journalists. In a statement, the National Security Council said,
"Democracy is about more than holding elections." The criticism from the
Obama White House has surprised some African analysts because Kagame has
long been seen as a close US ally. Last year, President Obama and First
Lady Michelle Obama met with Kagame in New York.



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