President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is set to begin his fourth term in office after securing an overwhelming 99.15% of the vote in Monday’s election, which featured just two opponents.
The results, announced by the election commission, indicated a decisive victory for Kagame, who has maintained a strong grip on Rwanda for three decades as both the de facto leader and president.
The election saw candidates from the Democratic Green Party and independent candidates, Philippe Mpayimana and Frank Habineza, garner only 0.53% and 0.32% of the vote, respectively, with 79% of the ballots counted. Kagame’s victory margin surpassed the 98.79% he achieved in the previous election seven years ago.
In a speech from his party’s headquarters, Kagame thanked the Rwandan people for their continued support, stating, “The results that have been presented indicate a very high score, these are not just figures. Even if it was 100%, these are not just numbers. These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important. I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems.”
The National Electoral Commission praised the electoral process, noting that it occurred in a safe and transparent atmosphere for Rwandans both at home and abroad.
With 65% of the population under the age of 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have known. At 66 years old, Kagame is credited with rebuilding Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. However, he faces criticism for governing through a climate of fear and contributing to instability in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over nine million Rwandans, including about two million first-time voters, were registered to participate in the presidential election, which was held alongside legislative elections for the first time. Kagame had previously secured more than 93% of the vote in the 2003, 2010, and 2017 elections, where he similarly defeated the same two challengers.
