Paul Kagame is set to embark on a fourth term as Rwanda’s president after electoral authorities declared him the winner with 99.15% of the vote.
In the previous three elections, Kagame has consistently secured over 93% of the vote. Although eight candidates initially applied to contest against him, only two remained on the final list approved by the electoral commission. Several of his outspoken critics were disqualified due to reasons such as prior criminal convictions.
At the Rwandexco polling centre in Kigali, citizens began queuing 90 minutes before the polls opened.
Barimukije Pheneas, a voter, expressed his support for Kagame, highlighting the president’s efforts in rebuilding the nation post the 1994 genocide by focusing on development and implementing effective social services.
“We voted smoothly without any crowding, and we are happy,” Pheneas remarked. “I voted for Paul Kagame because he has achieved a lot for us; he united us.”
Kagame’s competitors in this election were Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, both of whom also challenged him in the 2017 election.
