BTN News: Rwandans went to the polls on Monday in a presidential election anticipated to extend President Paul Kagame’s lengthy tenure. Kagame has held power since 1994. The election day started early, with voters in Kigali arriving as early as 5 a.m., forming long queues at some polling stations.
Jean Claude Nkurunziza, voting for the first time, expressed his support for Kagame, saying, “I will vote for President Kagame because I have never seen a leader like him.” The enthusiasm among voters was palpable, highlighting Kagame’s influence and popularity among a significant portion of the population.
With 9.5 million Rwandans registered to vote out of a total population of 14 million, the turnout was expected to be substantial. Provisional results were anticipated later on Monday. However, the outcome seemed almost certain to favor Kagame, who faced little opposition.
Kagame’s rivals included Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Both struggled to gain significant support during their campaigns. This echoed the 2017 election, where Kagame secured nearly 99% of the vote against the same opponents. Habineza remained optimistic, telling AP, “Our party has improved, and we are confident we will get a good result this time.”
At 66, Kagame has been at the helm of the small African nation since leading the rebel forces that ended the 1994 genocide. He served as vice president and de facto leader from 1994 to 2000, when he became president. While many accuse him of authoritarianism, others commend him for the country’s significant growth over the past three decades.
Kagame is among several African leaders who have extended their rule by altering term limits. In 2015, Rwandans voted in a referendum to remove the two-term limit, allowing Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034. Speaking to the press on Saturday, Kagame stated that his mandate comes from the people, saying, “The ruling party and Rwandans have asked me to run for another term. Personally, I could go home and rest comfortably.”
The election took place amid growing insecurity in the Great Lakes region of Africa. A violent rebel group known as M23 is fighting against Congolese forces in a remote area of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to a recent UN report, between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are fighting alongside M23. The U.S. government has also claimed that Rwanda supports the group, while Rwanda accuses the Congolese army of recruiting fighters from those responsible for the 1994 genocide.
Human rights groups continue to highlight severe restrictions on rights in Rwanda, including freedom of association. Amnesty International recently voiced concerns over threats, arbitrary arrests, trumped-up charges, killings, and enforced disappearances targeting political opposition. The organization stated that the suppression of dissenting voices, including civil groups and the press, creates a chilling effect and limits the space for public debate in Rwanda.
