Paul Kagame is set for a fourth term as electoral authorities declare him the winner of the Rwandan presidential election after garnering 99.15% of the votes. Kagame has consistently won more than 93% of the vote in each of the three previous elections.
Eight candidates had applied to run against him, but only two were retained in the final list validated by the electoral commission. The others, including Kagame’s most vocal critics, were barred for various reasons, including prior criminal convictions.
At the Rwandexco polling center in the capital Kigali, people started queueing 90 minutes before polls opened. Voter Barimukije Pheneas expressed satisfaction with the election process, stating, “We voted smoothly without any crowding, and we are happy.” He added, “I voted for Paul Kagame because he has achieved a lot for us; he united us.”
Kagame’s opponents in this election were Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, who also challenged him in the last poll in 2017. Despite their efforts, Kagame’s overwhelming victory reaffirms his strong influence and leadership in Rwanda.
