Rwandan President Paul Kagame Secures Overwhelming Victory in Latest Election

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In a decisive electoral outcome, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has clinched another term in office with a staggering 99% of the votes, according to preliminary results released by the country’s electoral body on Monday evening.

This landslide victory mirrors his performance in the 2017 election, further solidifying his grip on power that spans nearly three decades.

79% Voter Turnout

The election, which saw a 79% voter turnout from the approximately 9 million registered voters, featured three candidates: incumbent President Kagame, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.

Habineza and Mpayimana secured a mere 0.53% and 0.32% of the votes respectively, highlighting the vast disparity in support.

Voters queued from early morning, expressing enthusiasm about participating in the democratic process. One voter told VOA,

Another emphasized the visible progress, stating their intention to vote for continued development. A voter, Barimukije Pheneas said he voted for kagame:

“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.”

Priorities of Building the Country

Kagame, who has held various leadership roles since 1994 and became president in 2000, cast his vote in Kigali, reaffirming his commitment to national prosperity. He stated,

The election was not without controversy. Several of Kagame’s most vocal critics were barred from running, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.

Mr Kagame thanked Rwandans for their confidence in him. He gave an address at his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party headquarters:

Critics argue that Kagame’s overwhelming victory is partly due to his authoritarian governance style and suppression of dissent. However, analysts also attribute his popularity to his role in guiding Rwanda towards internal peace and development since the devastating 1994 genocide.

The National Electoral Commission reported an increase of 2 million registered voters compared to the previous election.

NEC Chairwoman Oda Gasinzigwa confirmed the presence of over 300 international observers and about 700 local observers to monitor the electoral process.