According to partial results issued on Monday, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is on course for an emphatic election victory that will extend his rule by another five years.
According to the National Election Commission, Kagame, who has been in power since ending the 1994 genocide, has received 99.15% of the vote with more than two-thirds of the ballots counted.
This surpasses his 98.79% from the 2017 election and puts him far ahead of the two other candidates. Frank Habineza from the Democratic Green Party captured 0.53% of the vote, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32%.
The result of Monday’s election was never in question, as Kagame’s government was accused of suppressing political opposition and preventing several prominent critics from participating in the race.
Shortly after the preliminary results were declared, securing Kagame’s fourth term, he expressed his gratitude to the people of Rwanda in a speech from the headquarters of his ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
The outcome of Monday’s poll was never in doubt, with Kagame’s administration accused of muzzling political opposition and several prominent critics barred from the race.
Soon after the partial results, which gave Kagame a fourth term, were announced, he thanked Rwandans in an address from his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) headquarters.
“The results that have been presented indicate a very high score; these are not just figures, even if it was 100 per cent, these are not just numbers,” he said.
“These figures show the trust, which is most important,” he added. “I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems.”
Full provisional results are due by July 20, and definitive results by July 27.
Most of Rwanda’s population is under 30 years old, making Kagame the sole leader many Rwandans have ever experienced.
Although the 66-year-old has been lauded for rebuilding a nation shattered by genocide, he has also faced accusations of governing through fear within the country.
More than nine million Rwandans, including approximately two million first-time voters, were registered to participate in the presidential race, which was conducted simultaneously with legislative elections for the first time.
President Kagame secured victory with over 93% of the vote in 2003, 2010, and 2017, emerging as the clear winner against the same two challengers again.