Rwandan President Paul Kagame is poised for a fourth term after securing a staggering 99.15 percent of the vote in an election where only two opponents were permitted to challenge him. The outcome of Monday’s election was never in question, as Kagame has controlled the small African nation as both de facto leader and president for nearly three decades.
Partial results from the election commission, released seven hours after polls closed, confirmed Kagame’s overwhelming victory, surpassing the 98.79 percent he received in the last election seven years ago.
Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza garnered only 0.53 percent, while independent Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32 percent, based on results from 79 percent of the counted ballots.
Speaking from his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) headquarters, the 66-year-old Kagame thanked Rwandans for their support. “The results indicate a very high score; these are not just figures. Even if it was 100 percent, these numbers represent trust, which is what matters most,” he said. “I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems.”
The National Electoral Commission declared the electoral process safe and transparent for both domestic and overseas Rwandans. Full provisional results are expected by July 20, with final results due by July 27.
Kagame, who has been the only leader most Rwandans have known due to the country’s young population, is credited with rebuilding the nation after the 1994 genocide. However, he faces accusations of ruling through fear and contributing to instability in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over nine million Rwandans, including about two million first-time voters, registered to participate in the simultaneous presidential and legislative elections. Kagame has consistently won over 93 percent of the vote in previous elections in 2003, 2010, and 2017.
Rwandan courts dismissed appeals from opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire to clear past convictions that barred them from running. The election commission also excluded Kagame critic Diane Rwigara due to paperwork issues.
Amnesty International criticized the severe restrictions faced by Rwanda’s political opposition, including threats, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances.
The ruling RPF’s effective campaign contrasted sharply with the limited visibility and support for Kagame’s rivals.
Kagame’s RPF is celebrated for ending the 1994 genocide by ousting the Hutu extremists responsible for killing around 800,000 people. Under Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda has seen significant economic growth, with an average GDP increase of 7.2 percent per year from 2012 to 2022, though nearly half the population lives on less than $2.15 a day.
Internationally, Rwanda faces accusations of interference in eastern DRC, where a UN report claims its troops are aiding M23 rebels.
In the parliamentary elections, 589 candidates vied for 80 seats, with the RPF and its allies holding a majority in the outgoing assembly. The remaining 27 seats are reserved for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
