RWANDA’S President Paul Kagame has claimed a decisive victory in Monday’s election, securing another five-year term. Partial results from the National Election Commission reveal Kagame won 99.15 percent of the vote, with 79 percent of ballots counted. This surpasses his 2017 election result of 98.79 percent.
The other candidates, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana, received 0.53 percent and 0.32 percent respectively.
In his victory speech, Kagame emphasised the trust Rwandans placed in him. ‘These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important,’ he said.
Kagame has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since the 1994 genocide and president since 2000. While credited with rebuilding the nation, his administration faces accusations of suppressing political opposition.
The final results are expected by July 20, with official confirmation by July 27. Despite the overwhelming victory, critics highlight the lack of meaningful opposition and allege an environment of fear and repression under Kagame’s rule. Over nine million Rwandans, including two million first-time voters, participated in the election.
Kagame’s continued dominance in Rwandan politics marks yet another chapter in his long-standing rule, raising questions about the future of democracy in the country.
