Application for fourth term - Rwanda Election - Kagame aims for re-election
Over nine million voters - among them two million first-time voters - cast their ballots in Rwanda for a new president and the parliament composition. The official election results are expected on July 27. Preliminary results may be announced as early as mid-week. Long queues were observed at many polling stations on Monday.
Surprises are not anticipated: Incumbent Paul Kagame is considered the likely winner, running for a fourth term.
Kagame had two main opponents: the leader of the Green Party, Frank Habineza, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. In previous elections, Kagame received over 90% of the votes. Two opposition politicians were not even allowed to run as candidates. Human rights organizations criticize the persecution of opposition figures in the eastern African country with approximately 14 million inhabitants.
Kagame's party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), is expected to emerge as the strongest party from the upcoming parliamentary election. Approximately 670 candidates contested the 80 seats in the parliament. A unique feature of Rwanda is that, according to the regulations, women must hold a majority of seats in the parliament.
Kagame has been the president of the country since 2000, but in reality, he has been the powerful figure in Rwanda since 1994. He led the RPF from exile in Uganda into Rwanda, ending the genocide of the Hutu militias against the Tutsis. Afterwards, he served as both the Minister of Defense and Vice President.
- Despite criticisms from human rights organizations, it is widely expected that Paul Kagame will secure another term in office through his re-election in Rwanda, marking his fourth term as the country's president.
- Even in the context of Africa, where incumbents often win elections with substantial margins, Kagame's prospect of a fourth term of office in Rwanda seems particularly assured, given his past election results exceeding 90%.
- The lead-up to the 2024 re-election in Kigali promises to be significant, as Paul Kagame, having served as Rwanda's president since 2000 and played a pivotal role in the nation's recovery and development, seeks another term in office to continue shaping the country's political landscape.
