RWANDA'S KAGAME SWORN IN FOR THE FOURTH TERM. (PHOTO).

 Rwanda’s Kagame sworn in for fourth term

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been sworn in for a fourth term after sweeping to victory in an election last month with more than 99 percent of the vote.

Several dozen heads of state and other dignitaries from African nations attended the inauguration ceremony on Sunday at a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, where crowds had started gathering from the early morning.

Sunday's swearing-in took place at Kigali's Amahoro national Stadium, with thousands in attendance.

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 Mr Kagame in the 15 July election, after eight other candidates including his most vocal critics were barred by the electoral commission.

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

He also pledged to "never use the powers conferred upon me for personal interests".

"Should I fail to honour this oath, may I be subjected to the rigours of the law," he said.

Mr Kagame has been the real power in Rwanda since his then rebel forces came to power at the end of the genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered, ousting the genocidal regime.

Since then, Rwanda has been relatively stable, with Mr Kagame seeking to turn the country into the "Singapore of Africa".