Polling stations across Rwanda opened on Monday for both presidential and parliamentary elections, with the country’s long-time leader, Paul Kagame, poised to secure another five-year term.
Kagame, who has been in power since 2000 and a central figure in Rwandan politics since the 1994 genocide, faces a familiar electoral scenario as he runs for a fourth term.
Kagame, who has been praised for rebuilding Rwanda after the genocide that claimed around 800,000 lives, is set to extend his rule despite criticisms of his regime’s autocratic practices. The 66-year-old president is widely expected to win the election, given that only two challengers were approved to contest against him: Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Out of eight applicants, these were the only two deemed eligible after several prominent critics were barred from running.
In the 2017 election, Kagame achieved an overwhelming victory with nearly 99 percent of the vote, a trend expected to continue this year. Kagame’s dominance in Rwandan politics is underscored by his previous electoral successes, including winning with over 93 percent of the vote in 2003, 2010, and 2017. “He has made great achievements, he has helped our children to go to school, increased the numbers of teachers, he also gave us health insurance,” said Venantia Nyirangendo, 51, during the final RPF rally on Saturday. “Without him in power, this country would collapse. It’s good that he is our leader, we all love him.”
The current election is notable for the simultaneous holding of presidential and parliamentary elections, a first for Rwanda. More than nine million Rwandans are registered to vote across 2,433 polling stations. Polls opened at 7:00 am local time (0500 GMT) and will close at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT), with partial results expected as counting progresses.
Kagame’s administration has been praised for its role in economic growth and infrastructure development. According to the World Bank, Rwanda experienced an average economic growth rate of 7.2 percent from 2012 to 2022, despite nearly half of the population living on less than $2.15 a day. Kagame’s development achievements include building hospitals, roads, and expanding access to education and health services.
However, Kagame’s regime is also criticized for its authoritarian practices, including media suppression, arbitrary detentions, and human rights abuses. Internationally, Rwanda faces accusations of exacerbating instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a UN report alleging that Rwandan troops are supporting M23 rebels in the eastern part of the country.
Amnesty International has highlighted “severe restrictions” faced by Rwanda’s opposition, citing threats, arbitrary detentions, and other forms of repression. Despite these challenges, Kagame’s popularity remains high among many Rwandans, who credit him with significant improvements in national stability and development.
As the election campaign concluded, Kagame’s robust public relations campaign was evident through the widespread display of party symbols and slogans, including “Tora Kagame Paul” (“Vote Paul Kagame”) and “PK24” (“Paul Kagame 2024”). In contrast, Kagame’s opponents have struggled to garner significant support, with sparse crowds at their events.
In the parallel parliamentary elections, over 500 candidates are competing for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Of these, 53 seats are elected by universal suffrage, with the remaining seats reserved for women, youths, and people with disabilities through indirect elections on Tuesday. The Rwandan Patriotic Front currently holds 40 seats, with its allies holding 11, and the Democratic Green Party holds two seats.