In Rwanda’s presidential election, President Paul Kagame wins 99% of the vote

 Electoral officials in Rwanda have announced that President Paul Kagame has won 99% of the vote in provisional results from Monday’s presidential election. This outcome, with 79% of ballots counted, was expected given Kagame’s long-standing leadership. His rivals, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, received less than 1% of the vote combined, mirroring the 2017 election results.

Final results are due by July 27. Kagame, in power since the 1994 genocide, faced minimal opposition as several prominent critics were barred from running. Voter turnout appeared high, with 9.5 million of Rwanda’s 14 million people registered to vote.

Jean Claude Nkurunziza, a first-time voter, expressed support for Kagame, citing his leadership. Despite criticism of authoritarianism, Kagame is credited with Rwanda’s post-genocide development.

In 2015, a referendum removed a two-term limit, allowing Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034. He cited public demand for his continued leadership.

The election occurs amid heightened security concerns in the Great Lakes region. A UN report claims Rwandan soldiers are fighting with the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, a group allegedly supported by Rwanda. Rwanda accuses Congo of enlisting genocide perpetrators.

Human rights organizations, like Amnesty International, highlight severe restrictions on freedoms in Rwanda, targeting political opposition and limiting public discourse.