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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