Rwandan President Paul Kagame has secured a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election, garnering 99.15% of the vote with 79% of ballots counted. The 66-year-old leader, who has been in power since 2000, faced little opposition in the election, with his two opponents trailing far behind.
According to partial results announced by the electoral commission, Kagame’s nearest rival, environmentalist Frank Habineza, has secured only 0.53% of the vote, while former journalist and government adviser Philippe Mpayimana has garnered 0.32%.
Kagame’s victory mirrors the outcome of the 2017 election, which he won with 98.8% of the vote. The results come as no surprise, given the lack of meaningful opposition in the election. At least three aspirants, including outspoken critic Diane Rwigara, were disqualified from running.
The electoral commission reports a high voter turnout, with 98% of the 9.5 million eligible voters casting their ballots. In addition to the presidential election, Rwandans also voted for 53 legislators, with elections for 27 special seats reserved for women, young people, and people with disabilities set to take place on Tuesday.
Kagame’s supporters credit him with presiding over economic growth and helping to end ethnic divisions in the country. However, rights groups accuse him of curtailing freedoms since taking office. Despite these criticisms, Kagame remains a dominant figure in Rwandan politics, having been the de facto leader of the country since the end of the 1994 genocide.
The full provisional results are expected by July 20, with final results due by July 27.
Leave a Reply