Rwandans have begun voting in the country’s presidential and legislative elections, with longtime leader Paul Kagame poised to extend his tenure for another five years. Polling stations opened across the country, with more than nine million people registered to participate. Kagame, who has been the de facto leader for three decades, is almost certain to retain the presidency, facing only two challengers after Rwandan courts banned his most prominent critics. This mirrors the outcome of the previous election in 2017, where Kagame dominated his rivals with close to 99 percent of the vote.
The only two candidates approved to run against Kagame are Frank Habineza, leader of Rwanda’s Democratic Green Party, and independent Philippe Mpayimana. Prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire were unable to run due to previous convictions that disqualified them, despite appeals to have them removed. Another well-known Kagame critic, Diane Rwigara, was barred from running for the second time due to issues with her paperwork. Amnesty International has highlighted severe restrictions faced by Rwanda’s opposition, including threats, arbitrary detention, prosecution, and killings.
With the majority of the country’s population aged under 30, Kagame, who is seeking a fourth term, is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known. He is credited with rebuilding Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, which killed nearly 800,000 people. However, his regime has faced criticism from rights groups for being autocratic and stifling media and political opposition. Kagame’s government has also been accused of stoking instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo by supporting rebel groups, although Kigali denies these allegations. Despite his critics, Kagame is supported at home for overseeing economic growth and infrastructure development.
The parliamentary election is being held alongside the presidential vote, with over 500 candidates vying for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Of these, 53 are elected by universal suffrage. The RPF currently holds 40 seats, with its allies holding 11, while Habineza’s Green Party has two MPs. Another 24 seats are reserved for women, two for youths, and one for people with disabilities. Candidates for these seats must be independent, with indirect elections to be held on a later date. Kagame’s party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, has a strong presence in the current parliament.
