Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is set to secure a fourth term in office, with provisional results indicating a landslide victory. According to the National Electoral Commission, Kagame has garnered more than 99 percent of the vote, with 79 percent of ballots counted so far.
Facing minimal opposition after courts barred his most prominent critics, Kagame’s victory seems assured. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda received 0.53 percent, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana got 0.32 percent. The commission reported that Kagame’s current vote share surpasses the 98.7 percent he achieved in the 2017 election.
Eight potential candidates were disqualified from the race due to incomplete registration documents, further cementing Kagame’s dominant position. The full provisional results are expected by July 20, with final results to be announced on July 27.
In a speech from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Kagame, 66, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support. “The results that have been presented indicate a very high score; these are not just figures. Even if it was 100 percent, these are not just numbers,” he stated. “These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important. I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems.”
Kagame, who has been Rwanda’s de facto leader for three decades and officially president since 2000, remains the only leader most Rwandans have known, given that 65 percent of the population is under 30. Despite criticisms of ruling through fear and fostering instability in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kagame is credited with steering Rwanda through a period of significant economic growth, averaging 7.2 percent between 2012 and 2022, and spearheading vital infrastructure development.
Kagame is among several African leaders who have extended their tenure by altering term limits. A 2015 referendum allowed him to run for additional terms, potentially extending his rule until 2034. Despite the controversies surrounding his governance, Kagame’s popularity endures, reinforced by his role in Rwanda’s post-genocide reconstruction and sustained economic progress.