Rwandans headed to the polls on Monday to elect their next president, with incumbent Paul Kagame widely anticipated to secure a fourth term, continuing his nearly 25-year tenure in the East African nation.
His challengers, Frank Habineza from the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana, expressed hopes of making some progress, but analysts and rights groups predicted a decisive victory for Kagame.
Kagame, who has secured over 93% of the vote in the past three elections, has been lauded by Western and regional leaders for his role in ending the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and for the country’s economic development.
However, campaign groups like Human Rights Watch have accused his administration of repressing journalists, opposition members, and civil society groups ahead of the vote.
Kagame has dismissed these accusations, positioning himself as the candidate for stability.
His reelection could indicate a degree of political stability for his part of a divided region, but it will also bring ongoing global scrutiny due to allegations of human rights abuses and supporting rebels in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, charges he has denied.
At the Rwandexco polling centre in Kigali, Barimukije Pheneas expressed his intent to vote for the 66-year-old incumbent.
“We voted smoothly without any crowding, and we are happy,” Pheneas said. “I voted for Paul Kagame because he has achieved a lot for us; he has united us.”
Motorcycle taxi driver Karangwa Vedaste said the voting process was calm and peaceful, but declined to say who he had chosen.
“I voted for a leader I trust. The one I voted for is a secret in my heart. We will share it when he wins,” Vedaste said.
The electoral commission disqualified eight candidates, including some of Kagame’s most outspoken critics, citing reasons such as incomplete or missing registration documents.
Frank Habineza, the Democratic Green Party candidate whose deputy was found dead and nearly beheaded before the 2010 election, acknowledged signs of progress despite the disqualifications.
“We toured the entire country, and wherever we went, people welcomed us warmly. They gave us gifts and assured us they would vote for us,” Habineza said after voting.
“We have to maintain this momentum and not regress,” he added.
“We are confident, each of us is confident, it’s half and half,” independent presidential candidate Mpayimana told journalists after casting his vote.
The U.S. State Department says on its website that Rwanda has made “progress in developing national and local government institutions, economic development, maintaining security and promoting reconciliation.”
It also says it backs Rwanda’s efforts to “increase democratic participation and enhance respect for civil and political rights”.
Rwandans are also voting on Monday for members of the lower house of parliament and provisional results are expected by July 20. Polling stations are open until 1500 local time (1300 GMT).
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