Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is seeking to extend his 24-year rule in an election that analysts predict he will win by a landslide. Kagame, who has dominated every election since 2000 with over 90% of the vote, is facing only two contenders authorized to run, as other candidates were barred by the state-run electoral commission.
Despite criticism for not allowing real opposition and targeting critics, Kagame is praised for overseeing Rwanda’s economic revival and unifying the country after the 1994 genocide. With nine million registered voters, including two million first-time voters, a provisional winner should be known by Tuesday morning.
Opposition candidates Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana are undeterred, with Habineza hoping his party can secure 20 seats in parliament. Some Rwandans are listening to the opposition, with voter Celestin Mutuyeyezu switching his support from Kagame to Habineza due to promises of fighting unemployment.
However, defeating Kagame may prove difficult, as outspoken critic Diane Rwigara was barred from running in the election for the second time. Despite high rates of youth unemployment, Rwanda is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, credited to Kagame’s economic transformation and stability.
Kagame, often seen as a company CEO rather than a political leader, has cultivated allies while flexing Rwanda’s soft power internationally through sports, culture, and entertainment. On the diplomatic front, Kagame promised to protect Rwanda from external aggression amid tensions with neighboring countries.
As Rwandans head to the polls, the outcome seems predetermined, with Kagame expected to secure another term in office. But the presence of opposition candidates and the voices of dissenting voters show that democracy, though challenged, is still alive in Rwanda.
