A Tutsi, Kagame grew up in Uganda after his parents fled Rwanda in 1959 to escape Hutu-led ethnic purges. He became a follower of Yoweri Museveni (see uganda) and fought in his rebel army, rising to become head of military intelligence after Museveni became President of Uganda. Kagame joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR), a movement of Tutsi exiles, taking command of its army in 1990 after a failed invasion of Rwanda. Negotiations with the Hutu-dominated Rwandan government led to a ceasefire in 1993, but the genocide of 1994 provoked Kagame to lead a successful FPR invasion of Rwanda. He became Vice President and Minister of Defence in the new government but, as army commander, was de facto ruler of the country; he assumed the presidency in 2000. He decisively won multiparty presidential elections in 2003 and 2010, although irregularities were alleged on both occasions. As President he emphasized Rwandan unity and sought to rebuild the economy. Internationally, he intervened (1996–2002) in the Congo civil war (see congo, democratic republic of), initially to combat dissident Hutu forces, and cultivated relationships with Rwanda’s East African neighbours, China, the USA, and the UK. His presidency was due to end in 2017, but in 2015 he pushed through a constitutional amendment enabling him to stand for election again. He won the election of August 2017 with 99 per cent of the vote, amidst a major crackdown on opposition politicians and on the media.