Rwandan President Paul Kagame was getting ready for a fourth time period on July 16 after successful a landslide 99.15 p.c of the vote in partial outcomes of an election wherein solely two candidates had been allowed to run towards him.
The result of the July 15 election was by no means unsure: Kagame dominated the tiny African nation with an iron fist as de facto chief after which president for 3 many years.
Partial outcomes launched by the electoral fee seven hours after polls closed confirmed Kagame had received 99.15 p.c of the vote, much more than the 98.79 p.c he secured within the final election seven years in the past.
Inexperienced Democratic Celebration candidate Frank Habineza solely acquired 0.53% and unbiased Philippe Mpayimana 0.32%, in accordance with the outcomes launched with 79% of the votes counted.
Talking on the headquarters of his ruling get together, the Rwandan Patriotic Entrance (RPF), the 66-year-old thanked Rwandans for granting him one other 5 years in workplace.
“The outcomes which were introduced point out a really excessive rating, they don’t seem to be simply numbers, even when it was 100%, they don’t seem to be simply numbers,” he mentioned.
“These figures display confidence, which is a very powerful factor,” he added.
“I hope that collectively we are able to remedy all the issues.”
‘Secure and clear’
With 65% of the inhabitants beneath the age of 30, Mr Kagame is the one chief most Rwandans have ever recognized.
The bespectacled 66-year-old is credited with rebuilding a traumatised nation after the 1994 genocide, however can be accused of governing in a local weather of worry at dwelling and fomenting instability in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Greater than 9 million Rwandans, together with two million first-time voters, registered to forged their ballots, with the presidential race being held concurrently with legislative elections for the primary time.
At Kigali’s Nyabugogo market, customers had been optimistic and never shocked by the consequence.
“The explanation he will get so many votes, which must be 100%, is as a result of Rwandans love him,” mentioned retiree Frederick Bayingana. AFPitemizing Kagame’s achievements in delivering “improvement”, “clear water” and “safety”.
“Immediately is a day of celebration as a result of that is the consequence I needed,” mentioned bike taxi driver Thomas Dushimirimana, 38. AFP.
Full provisional outcomes should be submitted by 20 July and last outcomes by 27 July.
“Total, the electoral course of was carried out in a secure and clear setting for Rwandans dwelling overseas and within the nation,” the Nationwide Electoral Fee mentioned.
Mr Kagame received with greater than 93% of the vote in 2003, 2010 and 2017, when he once more simply defeated the identical two challengers.
He has overseen controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential phrases from seven to 5 years however reset the clock for the Rwandan chief, doubtlessly permitting him to rule till 2034.
‘Extreme restrictions’
Rwandan courts had rejected appeals by distinguished opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire to take away earlier convictions that successfully disqualified them from the July 15 vote.
The electoral fee additionally excluded high-profile Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, citing issues together with her documentation (the second time she has been excluded from candidacy).
Forward of the vote, Amnesty Worldwide mentioned Rwanda’s political opposition confronted “extreme restrictions… in addition to threats, arbitrary arrests, prosecutions, trumped-up costs, killings and enforced disappearances.”
The imbalance between the candidates was evident all through the three-week marketing campaign, because the RPF’s well-oiled public relations equipment went into overdrive.
His rivals had a tough time making themselves heard, as some occasions had been attended by barely 100 folks.
Kagame’s RPF militia is praised for its position in ending the 1994 genocide by driving out Hutu extremists who had unleashed 100 days of bloodshed towards the Tutsi minority.
The attackers killed round 800,000 folks, largely Tutsis but additionally reasonable Hutus.
Rwanda’s GDP has grown by a mean of seven.2% yearly between 2012 and 2022, though the World Financial institution says practically half of the inhabitants lives on lower than $2.15 a day.
Overseas, Kigali is accused of interfering within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s restive jap area, the place a UN report says its troops are preventing alongside M23 rebels.
Within the parliamentary elections, 589 candidates had been competing for 80 seats, together with 53 elected by common suffrage.
Within the outgoing meeting, the RPF had 40 seats and its allies 11, whereas Habineza’s get together had two.
One other 27 locations are reserved for ladies, younger folks and other people with disabilities.
