Faith Nyasuguta
Rwandans will head to the polls on July 15th to elect their next president and over 500 members of parliament. The Rwanda National Electoral Commission announced the official list of candidates on Friday, June 14th.
The presidential race will see current President Paul Kagame, who has led the country for 23 years and chaired the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) since 1998, face two challengers: Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Initially, nine candidates submitted their candidacies, but only three were approved to run.
Kagame has a strong track record in previous elections, winning with more than 90% of the vote in 2003, 2010, and 2017. Despite his popularity, critics and human rights groups accuse him of maintaining power through a climate of fear that suppresses dissent and restricts free speech.
The Liberal Party (PL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) have endorsed Kagame for this election, joining four smaller parties already in coalition with the ruling RPF. Kagame announced his intention to run for a fourth term last September, expressing gratitude for the continued confidence shown by Rwandans. “I will always serve them as long as I can,” Kagame, 65, told the French-language magazine Jeune Afrique.
In March, the Rwandan government moved to synchronize the dates for its legislative and presidential elections, set for August 2024. Kagame’s candidacy follows controversial constitutional amendments that allowed him to serve a third term and potentially remain in power until 2034.
An ex-rebel leader, Kagame has been seen as Rwanda’s de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide. Under his leadership, Rwanda has been lauded as one of the most stable countries in Africa. However, human rights organizations continue to criticize his administration for curbing freedoms and fostering an environment where opposition voices are marginalized.
Frank Habineza, who ran against Kagame in the last presidential election and secured less than 2% of the vote, will challenge him again. Independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana will also be on the ballot. The election will test Rwanda’s political landscape and Kagame’s enduring dominance in the country’s politics.
As Rwanda prepares for this crucial election, the international community will be closely watching to see how the process unfolds and whether it will address the ongoing concerns about political freedom and human rights in the country.
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