The newly elected Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Musa Sindayigaya, has pledged development projects for the Muslim community in Rwanda, saying this would pave the way for self-reliance.

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Representatives of the Rwanda Muslim Community, met in the capital Kigali on Sunday, May 26, to pick new leaders of the Islamic faith in the country, with Sheikh Sindayigaya elected unopposed as the new Mufti of Rwanda.

Sindayigaya had initially stood against Sheikh Salim Hitimana, the outgoing incumbent who had served in the role since 2016 but the latter pulled out of the race at the last minute.

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Sindayigaya, who hails from Kamonyi District, will be deputised by Sheikh Yunusu Mushumba . The elections for the Mufti of Rwanda and his executive team were initially set to take place in 2020, but the process was halted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sindayigaya, 43, is married with three children. He was a member of the outgoing national executive committe of the Rwanda Muslim Community, where he was in charge of finance and planning. He has held differen leadership roles in Islam since 2003.

The new Mufti of Rwanda studied Islamic theology in Saudi Arabia and has a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies and postgraduate diploma in public administration, as well as a Master’s degree in public administration management.

He is also completing a PhD in leadership and governance.

"I have three priorities during my tenure. These include the unity of Muslims, development projects for the Muslim community to be self-reliant, as well good governance and accountability,” he said.

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He also pledged to eradicate radicalism among the Muslim community.

"The Muslim community has to contribute to rebuilding the country and we call upon the community to participate in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

The outgoing Mufti, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, who led the community since 2016, said the Muslim community has achieved a lot in the past eight years.

"We constructed over 120 mosques. The Muslim community is constructing modern markets, commercial houses in Rubavu and Rusizi as a way of increasing financial capacity, and schools in Rwamagana, Kicukiro, and Musanze among others. Saudi Arabia will also help us build the Mosque of Excellence in Kigali,” he said.

Other projects include building the headquarters of the Muslim community in Rwanda. "The unity of the Muslim community is being strengthened,” he said.

The elected Qadhi or Muslim judges who interpret and administer the religious law of Islam are Sheikh Ibrahim Segisekure, Sheikh Hussein Biziyaremye as a deputy Qadhi and Musa Herve Hodari as a deputy Qadhi.

Those in charge of Fatwa, a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law (sharia), include Sheikh Uthman Kabirigi, Sheikh Issa Hagumimana, Sheikhat Djalia Mpazimpaka, and Sheihkat Khadidja Nyirasafari.

The commissions in charge of Islam rituals, finance and planning, good governance and laws, social affairs, cooperation, women and family promotion and youth, financial auditing department, private sector, and Muslims with disabilities also got new leaders.

Sheikh Suleiman Mbarushimana, the advisor to the Mufti of Rwanda, said the elections were transparent and all-inclusive as they began from the grassroots.

"The elections start at the mosque leadership level, then to the district, provincial, and finally to the national level.”

The electoral process was criticised by some individuals claiming to be Muslims who called into question the process, which started on May 11, claiming it was not transparent. They did not substantiate their claims.

The claims have since been dismissed by different members of the community that The New Times spoke to, many of them saying that the rumours stem from "two self-seeking individuals with a criminal history who are using YouTube platforms to sow seeds of discord in the close-knit community.”

Sheikh Mbarushimana also dismissed the claims saying they aim to distort the image of the Muslim community in the country.

"These people want(ed) elections to be skewed in a way that would give an advantage to people they prefer, which is not possible because rules are clear. We are an organised community and cannot be swayed by a couple of self-seekers,” he added.

Other members of the community have linked the individuals to radical groups, who they say see the existing cordial relationship between the Council and the Government as an impediment to their "sinister agenda to radicalise members".