Paul Kagame wins Rwanda’s Presidential elections in landslide

KIGALI, RWANDA — Rwandan President Paul Kagame has secured a landslide victory in the presidential election, garnering 99% of the vote, according to preliminary results released late Monday.

With 79% of ballots counted, Kagame led significantly. He has been in power since 1994 in various roles, achieving a similar victory margin in 2017.

Voters lined up from 7 a.m. on Monday, eager to participate in the election. Many expressed their desire for a leader who could meet their expectations and continue the country’s progress.

Kagame voted at 1:30 p.m. in Kigali, reiterating his commitment to national prosperity. Competing against him were the Democratic Green Party’s Frank Habineza and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, who received 0.53% and 0.32% of the vote, respectively.

This was Mpayimana’s second presidential bid, focusing on agriculture, transportation, and industry development. Habineza, also a repeat candidate, emphasized the need for new leadership after Kagame’s long tenure.

Several other potential candidates, including notable critics of Kagame, were barred from the election.

Around 9 million Rwandans out of a 14 million population were registered to vote, an increase of 2 million from the previous election, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The NEC reported that over 300 international and 700 local observers monitored the election.

Critics attribute Kagame’s victory to his authoritative governance style and suppression of dissent. However, analysts credit his role in achieving internal peace since the 1994 genocide, which saw 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus killed by Hutu extremists.