President Paul Kagame has welcomed his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron’s “well-deserved re-election” and praised his “visionary leadership”.
“Congratulations on your well-deserved re-election President Emmanuel Macro. This is a testament to your visionary leadership that seeks to unite and not divide,” Kagame said in a tweet early Monday.
He added, “Rwanda looks forward to even more and stronger partnerships between our people and nations.”
Macron became the first sitting French president to win a second term in 20 years after defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s run-off.
With nearly all votes counted, the 44-year-old incumbent was on course to garner 58.6 per cent of the vote, according to interior ministry figures, with Le Pen projected to collect 41.4 per cent of the votes cast.
Macron’s re-election comes against the backdrop of a sharp increase in the cost of living in France and this was a key issue in the run-up to the vote.
In his victory speech Sunday night, Macron said, “Many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far-right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come.”
“No one in France will be left by the wayside,” he said, pledging to be a “president for all.”
CU/abj/APA