KIGALI, Rwanda: Rwandan President Paul Kagame has secured a landslide victory in the presidential election, winning 99% of the vote according to preliminary results released on Monday evening. The country’s electoral body reported that 79% of the ballots had been counted so far.
Kagame, who has been in power since 1994 in various roles, had a similar victory in the 2017 election. Voters queued from 7 a.m. to cast their ballots, expressing excitement to exercise their civic duty. Many voters cited progress under Kagame’s leadership as their reason for supporting him.
Kagame voted around 1:30 p.m. at a Kigali voting center, reiterating his commitment to building the country’s prosperity. Competing against Kagame were Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Habineza received 0.53% of the vote, while Mpayimana garnered 0.32%.
Mpayimana, a journalist-turned-politician, ran for president for the second time, promoting initiatives to develop agriculture, transportation, and fishing. Habineza, who also ran in the last election, argued that Kagame has been in office too long and called for a new vision for Rwanda.
Despite the presence of over 300 international observers and about 700 local observers, critics claim Kagame’s victory is due to his heavy-handed governance and suppression of dissent. However, analysts acknowledge his role in guiding Rwanda towards internal peace since the 1994 genocide, when an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu extremists.
Out of Rwanda’s 14 million population, about 9 million were registered to vote, an increase of 2 million from the last election. National Electoral Commission Chairwoman Oda Gasinzigwa confirmed the registration numbers and the presence of observers.
Kagame’s continued presidency signals stability and ongoing development for Rwanda, though it also raises questions about democratic practices and the political landscape in the country.
