Rwanda’s ruling party recently selected President Paul Kagame as its candidate for the upcoming July election, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be a contest that will likely see the long-serving leader securing a fourth seven-year term.
Having governed the landlocked African nation for years, Kagame clinched victories in the presidential elections held in 2003, 2010, and 2017, garnering over 90 percent of the vote each time.
Kagame’s candidacy emerged unopposed during the Rwandan Patriotic Front congress, concluding on Saturday, as per the party’s announcement.
While accepting the nomination, Kagame emphasized the importance for the ruling party to prepare for a transition beyond his leadership.
He stated, “The burden of responsibility to lead our country can be equated to a shock absorber against the challenges we face daily. It requires the right mindset. I accept this burden of responsibility, but with a call to get someone to relieve me of this responsibility.”
Kagame’s primary challenger in the forthcoming July polls is expected to be opposition Green Party leader Frank Habineza.
However, Habineza, aged 47, managed only 0.45 percent of the vote in the 2017 election, securing the third position in polls that rights groups criticized for irregularities and voter intimidation.
Another potential contender, Victoire Ingabire, leader of the unregistered Dalfa Umurunzi (Development And Liberty For All) movement, faces hurdles in joining the presidential race due to a past conviction. A court ruling on her eligibility is scheduled for March 13.
Rwanda is set to conduct presidential and parliamentary elections on July 15, following the government’s decision last year to synchronize the voting dates. Additionally, electoral colleges and committees will elect twenty-four women MPs, two youth representatives, and a representative for disabled Rwandans on July 16.
Campaigning for candidates will be permitted from June 22 to July 12, as per the election calendar.
Despite Rwanda being regarded as one of Africa’s most stable countries, rights groups accuse Kagame of governing in an atmosphere of fear that suppresses dissent and free speech.
A former rebel chief, Kagame assumed the presidency in April 2000, effectively leading Rwanda since the conclusion of the 1994 genocide. Controversial constitutional amendments in 2015 enabled him to run for additional terms, potentially extending his tenure until 2034.
