2024 Rwandan general election explained

Country:Rwanda
Election Date:15 July 2024
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Presidential election
Type:presidential
Previous Election:2017 Rwandan presidential election
Previous Year:2017
Next Year:2029
Turnout:98.20%
Image1:Paul Kagame 2023.jpg
Nominee1:Paul Kagame
Party1:Rwandan Patriotic Front
Popular Vote1:8,822,794
Percentage1:99.18%
Nominee2:Frank Habineza
Party2:Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
Popular Vote2:44,479
Percentage2:0.50%
President
Before Election:Paul Kagame
Before Party:Rwandan Patriotic Front
After Election:Paul Kagame
After Party:Rwandan Patriotic Front
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Chamber of Deputies election
Previous Election:2018
Seats For Election:53 of the 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Percentage1:68.83
Seats1:37
Last Election1:39
Party2:Liberal Party (Rwanda)
Percentage2:8.66
Seats2:5
Last Election2:4
Party3:Social Democratic Party (Rwanda)
Percentage3:8.62
Seats3:5
Last Election3:5
Party4:Ideal Democratic Party
Percentage4:4.61
Seats4:2
Last Election4:1
Party5:Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
Percentage5:4.56
Seats5:2
Last Election5:2
Party6:Social Party Imberakuri
Percentage6:4.51
Seats6:2
Last Election6:2

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

In an election that was criticised as unfair for its barring of serious opposition candidates,[3] 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.[4]

Background

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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Electoral system

The president of Rwanda is elected in one round of voting by plurality.[9]

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

Around 9.5 million people were registered to vote.[12] Advance voting for overseas Rwandans was held in the country's diplomatic missions on 14 July. Polling on election day opened at 07:00 and lasted until 15:00,[13] while voting for indirectly elected seats was held on 16 July.[14] Provisional results are expected by 20 July,[15] while the final result is expected on 27 July.[16]

Presidential candidates

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."[17] 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.[18] Kagame's candidacy was finalised by the RPF without objections at the end of its congress on 9 March 2024.[19] He was also endorsed by the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party on 31 March.[20]

Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda also indicated he would run again in 2024.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23] 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. She was thus barred from running on 13 March 2024.[24]

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.[25] The final list of candidates for the presidential and parliamentary election was released on 14 June.[26] 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."[27] 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".[28]

Campaign

Campaigning was held from 22 June to 12 July.[19] 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.[29]

Conduct

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

Results

Chamber of Deputies

Aftermath

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-12-12 . Rwanda to hold presidential, parliamentary polls in July 2024 . 2023-12-15 . . en . 4 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204182004/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/rwanda-to-hold-presidential-parliamentary-polls-in-july-2024-4461852 . live .
  2. Web site: Rwanda sets 15 July 2024 election date for presidential, legislative polls . North Africa Post . 2023-12-15 . en-US . 15 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215094933/https://northafricapost.com/73735-rwanda-sets-15-july-2024-election-date-for-presidential-legislative-polls.html . live .
  3. Web site: 2024-07-17 . Kagame opponents and critics say elections in Rwanda neither free nor fair . 2024-07-21 . Voice of America . en.
  4. Web site: Rwanda's Kagame sworn in for fourth term after 99 percent election win . 11 August 2024 . Al Jazeera . en.
  5. Web site: Paul Kagame's third term: Rwanda referendum on 18 December. BBC News. 9 December 2015. 20 January 2023. 23 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171123045750/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35049885. live.
  6. Web site: Paul Kagame to seek fourth term as president of Rwanda . 9 July 2022 . BBC News . 5 April 2023 . 11 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111171116/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62105226 . live .
  7. Web site: Robertson . Dylan . 2023-07-21 . Ministers' embrace of Rwanda's Kagame undermines democratic values: governance prof . 2024-07-16 . CBC . 16 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716175053/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ministers-meet-paul-kagame-1.6914552 . live .
  8. Web site: Rwanda: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report . . 17 July 2024 . en.
  9. Web site: Rwanda. IFES Election Guide. 20 January 2023. 16 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116191330/http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2160/. live.
  10. Web site: Electoral system. Inter-Parliamentary Union. 29 September 2023. 8 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200208180627/http://archive.ipu.org/Parline/reports/2265_B.htm. live.
  11. Web site: 16 September 2013 . Rwandans vote in parliamentary elections . Al Jazeera . 29 September 2023 . 6 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200906212531/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/09/20139169246707534.html . live .
  12. Web site: Paul Kagame appears set to extend his long presidency of Rwanda in an election Monday . Associated Press . 12 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Rwanda heads to polls with President Kagame expected to secure fourth term . France 24 . 15 July 2024.
  14. Web site: Rwanda election: Kagame eyes fourth term as voters head to the polls . 15 July 2024 . 15 July 2024 . Al Jazeera . 15 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715083100/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/15/rwandas-kagame-eyes-fourth-term-as-voters-head-to-the-polls . live .
  15. Web site: Rwanda votes in elections President Paul Kagame is widely expected to win . Africanews . 12 July 2024.
  16. Web site: Vote counting begins in Rwanda's presidential election . Africanews . 16 July 2024 . 16 July 2024 . 16 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716051326/https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/15/vote-counting-begins-in-rwandas-presidential-electio/ . live .
  17. Web site: Rwanda's veteran president Kagame to seek re-election in 2024 . 20 September 2023 . . 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. . 25 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231025134307/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/rwandas-veteran-president-kagame-seek-re-election-2024-2023-09-20/ . live .
  18. Web site: Four small parties back Kagame's 2024 presidential bid . Gahigi . Moses . The EastAfrican . 7 October 2023 . 27 November 2023 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205222959/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/four-small-parties-back-kagame-s-2024-presidential-bid-4392724 . live .
  19. Web site: Rwanda's ruling party again chooses Kagame as presidential candidate . France 24 . 10 March 2024 . 10 March 2024 . 10 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310024736/https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240309-rwandan-ruling-party-picks-president-paul-kagame-as-presidential-candidate . live .
  20. Web site: Rwanda: Kagame endorsed as candidate by seven political parties . Africanews . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402001508/https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/01/rwanda-kagame-endorsed-as-presidential-candidate-by-seven-political-parties/ . live .
  21. Web site: Rwanda: Kagame announces he will run for a fourth term . 20 September 2023 . . 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. . 11 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111185201/https://www.africanews.com/2023/09/20/rwanda-kagame-announces-he-will-run-for-a-fourth-term/ . live .
  22. Web site: Rwanda Opposition Figure Presses On Against Political Odds . Elmendorp . Ruud . 30 October 2019 . 27 October 2023 . Voice of America . 5 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205204552/https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_rwanda-opposition-figure-presses-against-political-odds/6178473.html . live .
  23. Web site: Why President Kagame Should Not Run for a Fourth Term . Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza . 21 November 2023 . 27 November 2023 . The Elephant . 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. . 9 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209081201/https://www.theelephant.info/op-eds/2023/11/21/why-president-kagame-should-not-run-for-a-fourth-term/ . live .
  24. Web site: Victoire Ingabire: Rwandan opposition leader barred from election . 13 March 2024 . 13 March 2024 . BBC.
  25. Web site: Kagame critic barred from Rwanda's presidential race . 7 June 2024 . 7 June 2024 . BBC.
  26. Web site: Rwanda: Two candidates up against Paul Kagame in July 15 poll . 18 June 2024 . 18 June 2024 . Africanews.
  27. Web site: 2024-07-15 . Rwanda: President Kagame reelected with 99% — early results . 2024-07-17 . DW . en . 17 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240717153512/https://www.dw.com/en/rwanda-president-kagame-reelected-with-99-early-results/a-69660649 . live .
  28. News: Sharma . Sweta . Paul Kagame set to win flawed Rwanda election with 99% of vote . 17 July 2024 . The Independent . 16 July 2024 . en.
  29. Web site: Will Paul Kagame win a landslide in Rwanda election? Here's what to know . 14 July 2024 . 14 July 2024 . Al Jazeera . 14 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714074525/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/14/will-paul-kagame-win-a-landslide-in-rwanda-election-heres-what-to-know . live .
  30. Web site: 1 killed in stampede as Rwanda's Kagame begins campaign for reelection . 25 June 2024 . 25 June 2024 . Africanews . 25 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240625105123/https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/25/1-killed-in-stampede-as-rwandas-kagame-begins-campaign-for-reelection/ . live .
  31. Web site: Kagame wins Rwanda vote in landslide – partial results . 16 July 2024 . 16 July 2024 . BBC.

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