RWANDA ELECTION: Kagame to extend 17-year reign with landslide victory

Rwanda’s electoral commission has announced President Paul Kagame as winner of the country’s presidential election with 98.63% of votes, meaning he will have a third term in office with the landslide.

Responding to the official announcement of the widely expected outcome, Kagame said in a speech broadcast on live television that, “This is another seven years to take care of issues that affect Rwandans and ensure that we become real Rwandans who are [economically] developing”.

Kagame’s eligibility to contest for a third term was ratified in 2015, when Rwanda’s constitution was amended, following a referendum.

Read also: ELECTIONS: Kenyans flee in droves, stock up for fear of ethnic violence

By the amendment, Kagame could run again, potentially staying in power until 2034.

In show of confidence, Kagame had previously called the election “just a formality”.

Kagame, who has been in power for 17 years, was challenged by Frank Habineza, from the Democratic Green Party, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent.

Another independent challenger, businesswoman and rights activist Diane Shima Rwigara, was disqualified by the electoral commission.

The remaining eight opposition parties ceded their participation right to President Kagame, as they all adopted him as their candidate.

His two challengers had complained that their supporters were being intimidated, which they say explained the low turnout at their rallies.

The candidates also accused some local authorities of undermining their campaigns.

The ruling party denied any accusations of wrongdoing.

Kagame, 59, came to power amid wide acclaim in 1994, when his Tutsi rebel group took control of Kigali, ending the genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in a dark chapter in Rwandan history.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now