Rwanda's ruling party elects woman to deputise Kagame

Ms Uwimana (left) with President Kagame (right) at the party's national congressImage caption: Ms Uwimana (left) with President Kagame (right) at the party's national congress

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Rwanda's ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), on Sunday elected its first woman vice-chairperson as President Paul Kagame retained the chairmanship position.

Consolee Uwimana was elected by 1,945 votes - about 93% of the votes cast.

Observers say promoting her is the party's way of giving more power to women and keeping the ethnicity quota balanced in its top leadership.

Ms Uwimana is a veteran banker and businesswoman who served as a senator until 2019.

Rwanda's next general elections is scheduled for 2024.

President Kagame has been president of the East African nation since 2000. A controversial referendum in 2015 removed a two-term constitutional limit for presidents.

On Sunday, Mr Kagame got 99.8% of the total votes to retain leadership of the ruling party.

Rwanda has one of the world’s highest proportions of women in parliament and government

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