KIGALI, Rwanda, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Political tensions are mounting Rwanda as the country prepares for its first multi-party presidential election since the 1994 genocide.
During a rally Saturday, incumbent President Paul Kagame threatened to jail his chief opponent for allegedly promoting the type of ethnic divisions that led to the genocide, Voice of America reported.
Rwanda is still recovering from the massacre when Hutu extremists killed up to one million ethnic minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus in just over three months.
Kagame's chief rival, Faustin Twagiramungu, is a moderate Hutu who once served as prime minister under Kagame. He returned to Rwanda in June after an eight-year self-imposed exile in Belgium.
Twagiramungu has accused Kagame's party of intimidating, harassing, and illegally detaining his supporters. He said the ruling party has resorted to unfair tactics because he presents a serious challenge.
Kagame is expected to win Monday's election, VOA said.
