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Paul Kagame was Tuesday declared the winner of the Rwandan presidential election, securing his fourth term in office with an overwhelming 99.15 percent of the votes, according to the electoral authorities.
Kagame’s dominance in Rwandan politics remains unchallenged, having previously won over 93 percent of the vote in each of the past three elections. This year’s election saw eight candidates vying for the presidency, but only two were approved by the electoral commission to challenge Kagame. The rest, including some of Kagame’s most outspoken critics, were disqualified due to various reasons, including prior criminal convictions.
At the Rwandexco polling center in the capital city of Kigali, eager voters began queuing 90 minutes before the polls opened. Among them was Barimukije Pheneas, who expressed his support for Kagame, citing the president’s role in rebuilding Rwanda after the devastating 1994 genocide. Kagame is widely credited with prioritizing national development and implementing effective social services.
“We voted smoothly without any crowding, and we are happy,” Pheneas said. “I voted for Paul Kagame because he has achieved a lot for us; he united us.”
At 66, Kagame faced no significant opposition, as leading challengers were barred from running. His two opponents, environmentalist Frank Habineza and former journalist Philippe Mpayimana, garnered 0.53% and 0.32% of the vote, respectively.
In an address at the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party headquarters, Kagame had expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Rwandan people. “These are not just figures, even if it was 100%, these are not just numbers. [They] show the trust, and that is what is most important,” he said.
At least three potential candidates were disqualified from this election, including Diane Rwigara, a vocal critic of Kagame. The electoral commission reported a high voter turnout, with 98% of the more than 9.5 million eligible voters participating. The electorate voted for both a president and 53 legislators, with additional elections for 27 special seats designated for women, young people, and people with disabilities set for Tuesday.
Kagame has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide and has officially served as president since 2000. While rights groups accuse him of suppressing freedoms, his supporters credit him with economic growth and reducing ethnic divisions in the country.
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