Rwandans Head to Polls in Presidential Election

 

Monday marks voting day in Rwanda's presidential election, likely extending President Paul Kagame's long rule, which began in 1994. In the capital, Kigali, voters formed long lines at some polling stations, with many arriving as early as five in the morning.

"This will be my first time casting a ballot," said passenger motorcyclist Jean Claude Nkurunziza. "I am voting for President Kagame since I have never seen a leader like him before."

Out of a population of 14 million, election officials estimate that 9.5 million Rwandans are registered to vote, with provisional results expected later on Monday.

The outcome is anticipated to favor Kagame, who is running with little opposition. His rivals, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, struggled to gain significant support during their campaigns. In 2017, Kagame secured almost 99% of the vote against the same opponents.

On Monday, Habineza told the Associated Press that his party “has improved and we are confident we will perform very well this time.”

Since leading the rebel force that ended the 1994 genocide, the 66-year-old Kagame has overseen Rwanda's transformation. From 1994 to 2000, he served as vice president and de facto leader, becoming president after his first election. While critics label him a harsh authoritarian, supporters credit him with driving Rwanda’s significant development over the past three decades.

Kagame is among several African leaders who have extended their rule by amending term limits. In a 2015 referendum, Rwandans voted to remove the two-term limit, allowing Kagame to stay in office until 2034.

On Saturday, Kagame told reporters that the people's will defines his mandate.