Kagame Expected to Win Rwanda Election

Rwandans Head to Polls as Kagame Seeks to Extend Rule. More than nine million Rwandans are registered to cast their ballot across 2,433 polling stations.

LOCATION

Rwanda is a landlocked country with a population of approximately 14 million people. it is located in East-Central Africa. It shares borders with Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the west. Rwanda's capital city is Kigali.


Rwandan Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Millions of Rwandans voted in presidential and parliamentary elections on July 15. More than nine million Rwandans were registered to vote at 2,433 polling stations. This year, the presidential and legislative elections were held simultaneously for the first time. President Paul Kagame is expected to win and extend his rule for another five years.

First-Time Voters

University student Gatangaza Bwiza Nelly, one of two million first-time voters, expressed excitement about voting. She believed the results would mirror the 2017 election, where Kagame won nearly 99% of the vote.

Who is Paul Kagame?

Paul Kagame has been Rwanda’s leader since the end of the 1994 genocide and has been President since 2000. He faced only two challengers in this election, as several critics were barred from running.

  • Early Life and Military Career: Kagame was born on October 23, 1957. He played a significant role in the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel group that ended the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis.
  • Rise to Power: After the genocide, Kagame served as vice president and minister of defense from 1994 to 2000. He became the de facto leader during this period and officially assumed the presidency in 2000.
  • Leadership and Controversy: Kagame is praised for transforming Rwanda's economy, promoting stability, and implementing progressive policies. However, his leadership is also criticized for being authoritarian, with reports of suppression of political opposition, limited press freedom, and human rights abuses.
  • Term Limits: In a 2015 referendum, Rwandans voted to remove the two-term limit for the presidency, allowing Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034.
  • Recent Election: In the July 2024 election, Kagame was re-elected with 99% of the vote, continuing his long tenure as the nation's leader.

Candidates

Paul Kagame: Current president, running for a fourth term.

Frank Habineza: Leader of the Democratic Green Party.

Philippe Mpayimana: Independent candidate.

Provisional Results

Preliminary results showed Kagame winning 99% of the vote. His opponents, Habineza and Mpayimana, collectively received under 1%. The final results are expected by July 27.

Term Limits

In 2015, Rwandans voted to remove the two-term limit for the presidency, allowing Kagame to potentially stay in power until 2034. Kagame stated that his mandate comes from the people's request for him to continue leading.

Regional Insecurity

The election occurred amid concerns about insecurity in Africa’s Great Lakes region. Rwandan forces are involved in fighting in eastern Congo, with allegations of backing the rebel group M23. Rwanda accuses Congo’s military of recruiting genocide perpetrators.

Human Rights Concerns

Human rights groups have raised concerns about restrictions on freedoms in Rwanda. Reports include threats, arbitrary detentions, and targeting of political opponents, which limit public debate. Amnesty International highlighted issues of suppression of dissenting voices, affect 

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