- Rwandan President Paul Kagame secured a fourth term in office, winning 99.15% of the vote in the recent election
- Kagame’s ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) holds 40 seats, with its allies holding 11 seats, in the 80-seat parliament
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has secured a fourth term in office, winning 99.15 percent of the vote in the recent election. This result surpasses his previous record of 98.79 percent from seven years ago.
Partial results from the election commission, released seven hours after polls closed, showed Kagame leading significantly against his two challengers. Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza received 0.53 percent of the vote, while independent Philippe Mpayimana garnered 0.32 percent. 79 percent of ballots were counted at the time of reporting.
In a speech from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the 66-year-old president expressed his gratitude to Rwandans for granting him another five-year term. “The results that have been presented indicate a very high score; these are not just figures. Even if it was 100 percent, these are not just numbers. These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important. I hope we can solve all problems together,” Kagame stated.
The National Electoral Commission commended the electoral process, noting it was conducted safely and transparently both domestically and for Rwandans living abroad.
With 65 percent of Rwanda’s population under 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have known. He is credited with rebuilding the nation following the 1994 genocide. However, his leadership is also marked by accusations of ruling through fear and contributing to instability in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Approximately nine million Rwandans, including around two million first-time voters, were registered for the election, which coincided with legislative elections for the first time.
“Kagame gives us everything we ask him, such as health insurance. This is why he wins by a big margin,” said 34-year-old mechanic Francois Rwabakina.
Kagame previously won over 93 percent of the vote in the 2003, 2010, and 2017 elections. Constitutional amendments during his tenure have reduced presidential terms from seven to five years and reset the term limit, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2034.
The election commission excluded prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire, as well as high-profile Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, from the ballot, citing previous convictions and issues with paperwork, respectively. Amnesty International criticized the severe restrictions and threats faced by Rwanda’s political opposition.
Kagame’s RPF militia is celebrated for ending the 1994 genocide, during which around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, were killed. Under his leadership, Rwanda has seen significant economic growth, with GDP increasing by an average of 7.2 percent annually from 2012 to 2022. However, the World Bank reports that nearly half of the population lives on less than $2.15 daily.
Internationally, Kagame’s administration has faced accusations of meddling in the eastern DRC, where a UN report alleges Rwandan troops are fighting alongside M23 rebels.
In the parliamentary election, 589 candidates competed for 80 seats, with the RPF holding 40 seats and its allies 11 in the outgoing assembly. The Democratic Green Party had two seats. An additional 27 spots are reserved for women, youth, and people with disabilities.