2024 Rwandan general election
CountryRwanda
Election date15 July 2024
President
presidential
Election namePresidential election
Previous election2017 Rwandan presidential election
Previous year2017
Next year2029
Registered9,071,157
Turnout98.20% ( 0.05pp)
Nominee 1Paul Kagame
Party 1Rwandan Patriotic Front
Popular vote 18,822,794
Percentage 199.18%
Nominee 2Frank Habineza
Party 2Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
Popular vote 244,479
Percentage 20.50%
Before electionPaul Kagame
Before partyRwandan Patriotic Front
After electionPaul Kagame
After partyRwandan Patriotic Front
2024 Rwandan general election
Election nameChamber of Deputies election
Previous election2018
Seats for election53 of the 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Party 1RPF coalition
Leader 1Paul Kagame
Percentage 168.83
Seats 137
Last election 139
Party 2Liberal Party (Rwanda)
Leader 2Donatille Mukabalisa
Percentage 28.66
Seats 25
Last election 24
Party 3Social Democratic Party (Rwanda)
Leader 3Vincent Biruta
Percentage 38.62
Seats 35
Last election 35
Party 4Ideal Democratic Party
Leader 4Mussa Fazil Harerimana
Percentage 44.61
Seats 42
Last election 41
Party 5Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
Leader 5Frank Habineza
Percentage 54.56
Seats 52
Last election 52
Party 6Social Party Imberakuri
Leader 6Christine Mukabunani
Percentage 64.51
Seats 62
Last election 62

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][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

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

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

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

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

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

Aftermath

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

References

  1. ^ "Rwanda to hold presidential, parliamentary polls in July 2024". The EastAfrican. 2023-12-12. Archived 4 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  2. ^ "Rwanda sets 15 July 2024 election date for presidential, legislative polls". North Africa Post. Archived 15 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  3. ^ 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. 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  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 23 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Paul Kagame to seek fourth term as president of Rwanda". BBC News. 9 July 2022. Archived 11 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ Robertson, Dylan (2023-07-21). "Ministers' embrace of Rwanda's Kagame undermines democratic values: governance prof". CBC. Archived 16 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  9. ^ "Rwanda: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Rwanda". IFES Election Guide. Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Archived 8 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Rwandans vote in parliamentary elections". Al Jazeera. 16 September 2013. Archived 6 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine. 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. ^ "Will Paul Kagame win a landslide in Rwanda election? Here's what to know". Al Jazeera. 14 July 2024. Archived 14 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. 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 15 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. 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 16 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Rwanda's veteran president Kagame to seek re-election in 2024". Reuters. 20 September 2023. Archived 25 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. 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 5 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Rwanda's ruling party again chooses Kagame as presidential candidate". France 24. 10 March 2024. Archived 10 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Rwanda: Kagame endorsed as candidate by seven political parties". Africanews. 2 April 2024. Archived 2 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Rwanda: Kagame announces he will run for a fourth term". Africanews. 20 September 2023. Archived 11 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. 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 5 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  25. ^ Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza (21 November 2023). "Why President Kagame Should Not Run for a Fourth Term". The Elephant. Archived 9 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. 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. ^ "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. 2024-07-15. Archived 17 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  30. ^ "1 killed in stampede as Rwanda's Kagame begins campaign for reelection". Africanews. 25 June 2024. Archived 25 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  31. ^ "Kagame wins Rwanda vote in landslide – partial results". BBC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.