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2024 Rwandan general election

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2024 Rwandan general election
Presidential election
← 2017 15 July 2024 2029 →
 
Nominee Paul Kagame Frank Habineza Philippe Mpayimana
Party RPF DGPR Independent
President of Rwanda before election

Paul Kagame
RPF

Elected President of Rwanda

Paul Kagame
RPF

Politics of Rwanda
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
United Nations in Rwanda

General elections were held in Rwanda on 15 July 2024 to elect the president and members of the Chamber of Deputies.[1][2] The election was the first in Rwanda's history in which voting for both the presidency and parliament was held on the same day.[3]

Incumbent President Paul Kagame, in office since 2000, was elected to a fourth term.

Background[edit]

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.[4] 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.[5]

Kagame's rule in the country has been described as authoritarian.[6]

Electoral system[edit]

The president of Rwanda is elected in one round of voting by plurality.[7]

The 80-seat Chamber of Deputies is elected by two methods: 53 seats are directly elected by closed list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with an electoral threshold of 5%; seats are allocated using the largest remainder method.[8] The remaining 27 seats are indirectly elected by local and national councils, including 24 reserved for women (six from Eastern, Southern, and Western provinces, four from Northern Province and two from Kigali),[8] two for representatives of youth and one for representatives of the handicapped.[9]

Around 9.5 million people were registered to vote.[10] Advance voting for overseas Rwandans was held in the country's diplomatic missions on 14 July.[11] Polling on election day opened at 07:00 and lasted until 15:00,[12] while voting for indirectly elected seats was held on 16 July.[3] Provisional results are expected to be released by 20 July,[13] while the final result is expected on 27 July.[14]

Presidential candidates[edit]

Kagame announced his bid for a historic 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."[15] Member parties of Rwanda's ruling government coalition, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) endorsed Kagame's campaign including the Ideal Democratic Party, the Democratic Union of the Rwandan People, the Prosperity and Solidarity Party, and the Rwandan Socialist Party.[16] Kagame’s candidacy was finalized by the RPF without objections at the end of its congress on 9 March 2024.[17] He was also endorsed by the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party on 31 March.[18]

2017 presidential candidate Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda also indicated he will run again in 2024.[19]

Political activist Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza said that her United Democratic Forces party would challenge Kagame if registered in time.[20] She said in 2023 that while recognizing Kagame's achievements while President, his greatest achievement would be stepping aside to let a peaceful transfer of power take place.[21] However, Ingabire had previously been disqualified from running after being convicted on charges of threatening state security and downplaying the Rwandan Genocide. On 13 March 2024 her appeal to be allowed to stand for office was dismissed by a court.[22]

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.[23] The final list of candidates for the presidential and parliamentary election was released on 14 June.[24]

Campaign[edit]

Campaigning was held from 22 June to 12 July.[17] Kagame pledged to continue his policies upon reelection, while Habineza criticised arbitrary detentions and the lack of free speech and media under the former's rule. Habineza also pledged to increase access to water and expand mechanised farming, while Mpayimana pledged to introduce reforms in the mining sector to benefit small-scale miners and expand access to loans for university students. Mpayimana also said that his campaign was also aimed at promoting “political maturity” in the country.[11]

Incidents[edit]

On 23 June, a crowd crush at an electoral rally attended by Kagame in Rubavu left one person dead and 37 others injured.[25]

Results[edit]

Provisional results showed that Kagame had allegedly won 99% of the vote in the presidential election,[26] while Habineza won 0.53% and Mpayimana won 0.32%, with a turnout of around 98%.[27]

Aftermath[edit]

Kagame expressed thanks to voters over the result in a speech at RPF headquarters in Kigali.[27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rwanda to hold presidential, parliamentary polls in July 2024". The EastAfrican. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  2. ^ "Rwanda sets 15 July 2024 election date for presidential, legislative polls". North Africa Post. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  3. ^ a b "Rwanda election: Kagame eyes fourth term as voters head to the polls". Al Jazeera. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Paul Kagame's third term: Rwanda referendum on 18 December". BBC News. 9 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Paul Kagame to seek fourth term as president of Rwanda". BBC News. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. ^ Robertson, Dylan (2023-07-21). "Ministers' embrace of Rwanda's Kagame undermines democratic values: governance prof". CBC. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  7. ^ "Rwanda". IFES Election Guide.
  8. ^ a b "Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union.
  9. ^ "Rwandans vote in parliamentary elections". Al Jazeera. 16 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Paul Kagame appears set to extend his long presidency of Rwanda in an election Monday". Associated Press. 12 July 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Will Paul Kagame win a landslide in Rwanda election? Here's what to know". Al Jazeera. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Rwanda heads to polls with President Kagame expected to secure fourth term". France 24. 15 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Rwanda votes in elections President Paul Kagame is widely expected to win". Africanews. 12 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Vote counting begins in Rwanda's presidential election". Africanews. 16 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Rwanda's veteran president Kagame to seek re-election in 2024". Reuters. 20 September 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.
  16. ^ Gahigi, Moses (7 October 2023). "Four small parties back Kagame's 2024 presidential bid". The EastAfrican. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Rwanda's ruling party again chooses Kagame as presidential candidate". France 24. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Rwanda: Kagame endorsed as candidate by seven political parties". Africanews. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Rwanda: Kagame announces he will run for a fourth term". Africanews. 20 September 2023. 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.
  20. ^ Elmendorp, Ruud (30 October 2019). "Rwanda Opposition Figure Presses On Against Political Odds". Voice of America. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  21. ^ Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza (21 November 2023). "Why President Kagame Should Not Run for a Fourth Term". The Elephant. 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.
  22. ^ "Victoire Ingabire: Rwandan opposition leader barred from election". BBC. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Kagame critic barred from Rwanda's presidential race". BBC. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Rwanda: Two candidates up against Paul Kagame in July 15 poll". Africanews. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  25. ^ "1 killed in stampede as Rwanda's Kagame begins campaign for reelection". Africanews. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Kagame wins fourth term in Rwanda with 99.15 per cent of the votes". Africanews. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Kagame wins Rwanda vote in landslide - partial results". BBC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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