There have been recent developments in President Paul Kagame’s bid for a third term in office as Rwanda’s Supreme Court has lent its support to Kagame’s third term bid. Rwanda’s Chief Justice, Sam Rugege threw out the opposition party’s lawsuit to halt any change in the constitution that would support Paul Kagame’s bid for a third time in office.

“Denying the free will of the people to choose how they are governed is not democratic, rather it is the opposite” Rugege was reported to have said. He made this statement in obvious reference to reports that about 3.7million Rwandans signed a petition asking Rwanda’s parliament to amend the constitution so as to allow Kagame contest for a third term.

Paul Kagame served as both Vice President and Minister of Defence of Rwanda from 1994 – 2000. He was then elected as President of Rwanda in 2000, and has held that post till now (attaining victory in elections both in 2003 and 2010).

This recent concession by the Rwandan parliament means Kagame might still be President after his tenure runs out in 2017. The duration of each presidential term in Rwanda is seven years, meaning Kagame can still be President of Rwanda for the next nine years bringing his number of years in office to 21.

Kagame recently said he will run for a third time if the Rwandan people allowed him to, and they have. However, like several other African leaders, this ‘love story’ has the potential to end on a sour note.