Nursing Mother Joins Parliamentary Race In Rwanda

Jeanne d’Arc Nyiramahirwe determined to make her voice heard, is running for a parliamentary seat in Rwanda’s elections.

She is among 199 women campaigning for a place in parliament, which reserves 24 out of 80 seats in the lower house for female candidates.

Rwanda holds legislative and presidential elections next week, with long-time leader Paul Kagame widely expected to extend his iron grip on the Great Lakes nation.

Despite rights groups raising alarm bells over political repression ahead of the polls, first-time candidate Nyiramahirwe — among 33 women competing for four seats in northern Burera District — was sure she would make her presence felt.

“Politics is not a specialty for the wealthy. In Rwanda, it is for everyone,” she told AFP in the capital Kigali in May, having made the two-hour journey from her hometown to register her candidacy.

There, the 38-year-old told a small gathering she will “preserve President Kagame’s achievements” — echoing other candidates who are careful to steer clear of criticising government policies.

Colourful if tightly controlled campaigning has seen huge crowds supporting Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front party, while independent candidates have scrabbled along as best they can.

But, baby-in-tow, Nyiramahirwe was adamant that “going to parliament does not take away my responsibilities as a mother”.

“The youngest is three months old, so I have to continue breastfeeding her even when I win a seat.”

And while she navigates the capital’s political landscape, she promises to remain deeply connected to her community in Burera.

“I will not forget you once I go to parliament in Kigali. I will always be available,” she told a gathering in her home area.

“ I’ll jump on a bike and come listen to your problems whenever I must.”