Paul Kagame has been sworn in for a fourth term as Rwanda’s president after winning 99 per cent of the vote in last month’s election.

While some hail Kagame for bringing peace and stability to his country after the 1994 genocide, others accuse him of running a repressive regime in a country where ordinary people are afraid to openly criticise him.

Rights groups say the margin of his electoral victory is proof of the lack of democracy in Rwanda. Only two candidates were allowed to stand against Kagame in the July 15 election.

In his four presidential elections, he has always gained at least 93% of the vote, reports the BBC. Several African heads of states were among the many thousands who attended the ceremony in the packed 45,000 capacity Amahoro National Stadium in the capital, Kigali.

In his oath of office, Kagame vowed to preserve peace and national sovereignty, and to consolidate national unity.