THE President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has hit back at the United States for criticizing his decision to seek a third term in office, repeating his earlier stand that foreigners should not determine the destiny of Rwandans.

According to AP, More than 98 percent of Rwandans voted in the last month’s referendum to lift term limits and allow Kagame extend his time in power.

The U.S. had last Saturday expressed “deeply disappointed” over Kagame’s decision to run for re-election in 2017. “With this decision, President Kagame ignores an historic opportunity to reinforce and solidify the democratic institutions the Rwandan people have for more than 20 years labored so hard to establish,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

Responding Monday on Twitter, Kagame said he is not concerned that the U.S. government is disappointed. “There are quite many very disappointing things happening across the globe we hope to carry our own burden and not be others’ burden” he wrote in a series of tweets. “

The United States has been a key ally of Rwanda. But in its response to Kagame’s decision to run again, the State Department said it believed constitutional transitions of power were essential for strong democracies and that efforts by incumbents to change rules to stay in power weaken democratic institutions.

Kagame however thinks differently. In his New Year’s message to Rwandans he said: “You clearly expressed your choices for the future of our country (in the referendum) … You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept.”