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Rwanda: FDU-Ikingi files new application for conference

By Rwanda News Agency
May 5, 2010

Kigali: The yet-to-be registered opposition group has filed a new application with Kigali city appealing to be allowed space for a delegates’ conference scheduled for next week, the group said.

The United Democratic Forces, FDU-UDF-Inkingi, whose leader is out on bail awaiting trail on three counts, submitted the fresh application April 28 to the Kigali city mayor, seeking to have the conference on May 15.

The latest application is the fourth – with all the previous three to Nyarugenge district mayor Ms. Theophila Nyirahonora dismissed.

In March, the Nyarugenge mayor refused to grant the group permission to meet on her territory citing ongoing investigations against FDU-Inkingi chief Ingabire Victoire. However, she said Ingabire and her group will have all the space they need once the authorities clear her of all allegations.

The firry politician is awaiting trail on links to a terrorist group, negating the Tutsi Genocide and ethnic divisionism. Proving its case against her, the state has also charged two of three ex-FDLR rebel officers accused of being accomplices in a plan to oust an elected government through armed rebellion.

Though the FDU-Inkingi has set up interim party structures, the group argues it has to hold the conference to confirm the nominated team of six people. The conference will also be used to affirm the interim party constitution.

The group also wants to position its troubled candidate Ms. Ingabire on the national scene in time for the August 08 presidential polls which she has already indicated to take part.

According to the election calendar, presidential candidates could start preparing nomination documentation in mid June. The final list of candidates approved by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) will be published on July 07 – which will be exactly a month to polling day.

The ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) nomination calendar is already underway. Over the weekend, the party’s district structures all over the country overwhelmingly endorsed President Paul Kagame as their preferred candidate for the polls.

The next stage will see the RPF provincial structures selecting the electoral colleges which will finally choose the party flag-bearer sometime next month. President Kagame has not publicly affirmed his candidature but all indications point to him being in the race.

RPF coalition partner, the Liberal Party (PL) has said its leader, Youth Minister Protais Mitali could be on the ballot as well. However, most of the other small parties intend to support President Kagame.

Elderly Jean Nepomuscene Nayinzira, the independent losing candidate in the last poll, announced last week that he will be on the ballot to fulfill a calling from the Holy Mary.

Meanwhile, RNA has established that senior officials of the nine existing political parties will hold a three-day closed door conference starting Saturday. It is not clear if the splinter faction of PS Imberakuri will attend the meet – where major decision which could shape the election season might be adopted.

PS-Imberakuri has a faction of embattled ex-leader Bernard Ntaganda and another of his former vice president Ms. Christine Mukabunane.

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UDF-INKINGI: National Constitutional Congress

posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 11:41 PM