Wikipedia

2024 Rwandan general election

General elections were held in Rwanda on 15 July 2024 to elect the president and members of the Chamber of Deputies.[1][2]

2024 Rwandan general election
15 July 2024
Presidential election
← 2017
2029 →
Turnout98.20%
 
Nominee Paul Kagame Frank Habineza
Party RPF Democratic Green
Popular vote 8,822,794 44,479
Percentage 99.18% 0.50%
President before election

Paul Kagame
RPF

Elected President

Paul Kagame
RPF

Chamber of Deputies election
← 2018
53 of the 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Party Leader Vote % Seats /–
RPF coalition Paul Kagame 68.83 37 −2
PL Donatille Mukabalisa 8.66 5 1
PSD Vincent Biruta 8.62 5 0
PDI Mussa Fazil Harerimana 4.61 2 1
Democratic Green Frank Habineza 4.56 2 0
PS-Imberakuri Christine Mukabunani 4.51 2 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

In an election that was criticised as unfair for its barring of serious opposition candidates,[3][4] incumbent President Paul Kagame, in office since 2000, was elected to a fourth term (allegedly with over 99% of the vote and a 98.2% turnout) and was inaugurated on 11 August.[5]

Background

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A referendum in 2015 approved constitutional amendments that would allow incumbent President Paul Kagame to run for a third term in office in 2017, as well as shortening presidential terms from seven to five years, although the latter change would not come into effect until 2024.[6] In 2022 Kagame told France 24 that he intended to run for president again in the 2024 election, despite having already served three terms in office.[7]

Kagame's rule in the country has been described as authoritarian. According to Freedom House, Kagame is an autocrat who is responsible for "surveillance, intimidation, torture and renditions or suspected assassinations of exiled dissidents". Human Rights Watch says that Kagame's government arrested and threatened political opponents.[8] Freedom House considered the elections in Rwanda neither free nor fair, citing reports of ballot stuffing, political intimidation, blocking of opposition challengers, and other undemocratic practices.[9]

Electoral system

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The president of Rwanda is elected in one round of voting by plurality.[10]

The 80-seat Chamber of Deputies is elected by two methods:

Around 9.5 million people were registered to vote.[13] Advance voting for overseas Rwandans was held in the country's diplomatic missions on 14 July.[14] Polling on election day opened at 07:00 and lasted until 15:00,[15] while voting for indirectly elected seats was held on 16 July.[16] Provisional results are expected by 20 July,[17] while the final result is expected on 27 July.[18]

Presidential candidates

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Kagame announced his bid for a fourth term on 20 September 2023 in an interview with the pan-African Jeune Afrique magazine, saying "I am happy with the confidence that the Rwandans have shown in me. I will always serve them, as much when I can. Yes, I am indeed a candidate."[19] Kagame's campaign was endorsed by member parties of Rwanda's ruling government coalition, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), including the Ideal Democratic Party, the Democratic Union of the Rwandan People, the Prosperity and Solidarity Party, and the Rwandan Socialist Party.[20] Kagame's candidacy was finalised by the RPF without objections at the end of its congress on 9 March 2024.[21] He was also endorsed by the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party on 31 March.[22]

Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda also indicated he would run again in 2024.[23] He had previously run in 2017.

In 2019, activist Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza stated that her United Democratic Forces party would challenge Kagame if it was officially recognised by the government. She claimed that there were delays despite her party having the necessary amount of registered members.[24] She said in 2023 that while recognising Kagame's achievements while President, his greatest achievement would be stepping aside to let a peaceful transfer of power take place.[25] However, Ingabire had been convicted in 2010 for threatening state security and downplaying the Rwandan genocide by asking why no Hutu victims were included in an official memorial.[26] She was thus barred from running on 13 March 2024.[26]

On 7 June the Rwandan electoral commission confirmed Paul Kagame, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent, as the final candidates for the presidential election, the same three candidates as in 2017. The applications of six other candidates, including Diane Rwigara of the People Salvation Movement, were rejected.[27] The final list of candidates for the presidential and parliamentary election was released on 14 June.[28] The only three presidential candidates allowed to run were the same as from 2017, where Kagame won with more than 98% of the vote. DW described the election as a "re-run of the non-contest in 2017."[29] The Independent wrote that the election was "widely criticised as unfair", while Amnesty International criticised the censorship of opposition in the race as having "a chilling effect and limits the space for debate for people of Rwanda".[3]

Campaign

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Campaigning was held from 22 June to 12 July.[21] Kagame pledged to continue his policies upon reelection. Habineza criticised censorship and arbitrary detentions under Kagame, and pledged to increase access to water and expand mechanised farming. Mpayimana pledged to reform the mining sector to benefit small-scale miners and expand access to loans for university students, and said that his campaign was also aimed at promoting "political maturity" in the country.[14]

Conduct

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On 23 June, at an electoral rally attended by Kagame in Rubavu, a crowd crush killed one and injured 37.[30]

Results

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President

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Paul KagameRwandan Patriotic Front8,822,79499.18
Frank HabinezaDemocratic Green Party44,4790.50
Philippe MpayimanaIndependent28,4660.32
Total8,895,739100.00
Valid votes8,895,73999.86
Invalid/blank votes12,1370.14
Total votes8,907,876100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,071,15798.20
Source: NEC

Chamber of Deputies

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Party or allianceVotes%Seats
RPF CoalitionRwandan Patriotic Front6,126,43368.8337
Centrist Democratic Party
Prosperity and Solidarity Party
Party for Progress and Concord
Democratic Union of the Rwandan People
Rwandan Socialist Party
Liberal Party770,8968.665
Social Democratic Party767,1438.625
Ideal Democratic Party410,5134.612
Democratic Green Party of Rwanda405,8934.562
Social Party Imberakuri401,5244.512
Independents19,0510.210
Indirectly-elected members27
Total8,901,453100.0080
Valid votes8,901,45399.93
Invalid/blank votes6,4230.07
Total votes8,907,876100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,071,15798.20
Source: NEC

Aftermath

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Kagame thanked voters over the result in a speech at RPF headquarters in Kigali.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Rwanda to hold presidential, parliamentary polls in July 2024". The EastAfrican. 12 December 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Rwanda sets 15 July 2024 election date for presidential, legislative polls". North Africa Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Sharma, Sweta (16 July 2024). "Paul Kagame set to win flawed Rwanda election with 99% of vote". The Independent. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Kagame opponents and critics say elections in Rwanda neither free nor fair". Voice of America. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Rwanda's Kagame sworn in for fourth term after 99 percent election win". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Paul Kagame's third term: Rwanda referendum on 18 December". BBC News. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Paul Kagame to seek fourth term as president of Rwanda". BBC News. 9 July 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ Robertson, Dylan (21 July 2023). "Ministers' embrace of Rwanda's Kagame undermines democratic values: governance prof". CBC. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Rwanda: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Rwanda". IFES Election Guide. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Rwandans vote in parliamentary elections". Al Jazeera. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Paul Kagame appears set to extend his long presidency of Rwanda in an election Monday". Associated Press. 12 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Will Paul Kagame win a landslide in Rwanda election? Here's what to know". Al Jazeera. 14 July 2024. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Rwanda heads to polls with President Kagame expected to secure fourth term". France 24. 15 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Rwanda election: Kagame eyes fourth term as voters head to the polls". Al Jazeera. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Rwanda votes in elections President Paul Kagame is widely expected to win". Africanews. 12 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Vote counting begins in Rwanda's presidential election". Africanews. 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Rwanda's veteran president Kagame to seek re-election in 2024". Reuters. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023. I am happy with the confidence that the Rwandans have shown in me. I will always serve them, as much when I can. Yes, I am indeed a candidate.
  20. ^ Gahigi, Moses (7 October 2023). "Four small parties back Kagame's 2024 presidential bid". The EastAfrican. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Rwanda's ruling party again chooses Kagame as presidential candidate". France 24. 10 March 2024. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Rwanda: Kagame endorsed as candidate by seven political parties". Africanews. 2 April 2024. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Rwanda: Kagame announces he will run for a fourth term". Africanews. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2023. The only other candidate so far in the presidential race is lawmaker Frank Habineza of the Green Democratic party. He said he was not surprised by Kagame's announcement and would continue to fight for democracy.
  24. ^ Elmendorp, Ruud (30 October 2019). "Rwanda Opposition Figure Presses On Against Political Odds". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  25. ^ Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza (21 November 2023). "Why President Kagame Should Not Run for a Fourth Term". The Elephant. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023. Therefore, while recognising with gratitude the achievements that he has made over the past three decades, Kagame's greatest achievement yet would be to step away from power at the end of his term in 2024. In so doing, Kagame will have paved the way for better leadership in Rwanda and opened the door to future generations of Rwandans aspiring to become leaders in Rwanda.
  26. ^ a b "Victoire Ingabire: Rwandan opposition leader barred from election". BBC. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Kagame critic barred from Rwanda's presidential race". BBC. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Rwanda: Two candidates up against Paul Kagame in July 15 poll". Africanews. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Rwanda: President Kagame reelected with 99% — early results". DW. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  30. ^ "1 killed in stampede as Rwanda's Kagame begins campaign for reelection". Africanews. 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  31. ^ "Kagame wins Rwanda vote in landslide – partial results". BBC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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