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Kagame presents re-election bid as Rwanda prepares for July election

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame sits to submit his candidature, where he seeks re-election in the upcoming polls due in July, at Rwanda's National Election Commission in Kiyovu, Kigali, on May 17, 2024. (Photo: Jean Bizimana/Reuters)

By Bashir Mohammed | Saturday, May 18, 2024

The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) nominated Kagame, 66, as its candidate during its congress in March, paving the way for his re-election bid.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has formally submitted his candidature for re-election in the polls scheduled for July, seeking to further extend his tenure as the country's leader.

A landslide victory of more than 98 per cent of the vote in 2017 led to the re-election of Kagame, who has been president since April 22, 2000.

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The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) nominated Kagame, 66, as its candidate during its congress in March, paving the way for his re-election bid.

He subsequently submitted his candidature to Oda Gasinzigwa, chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), in Kiyovu, Kigali, on Friday.

The NEC says that candidates have until May 30 to submit their applications and that approximately 9.5 million Rwandans are eligible to vote in this year's elections.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame submits his candidature to Oda Gasinzigwa, chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), in Kiyovu, Kigali, on May 17, 2024. (Photo: Jean Bizimana/Reuters)

In a significant development, the commission has secured the entire budget required to organise the elections from internal government resources, totalling Rwf 8.5 billion ($6.6 million), reflecting its commitment to self-sufficiency.

To further reduce costs, the commission plans to employ 100,000 volunteers to manage 17,400 voting rooms across the country.

The upcoming elections will feature both presidential and parliamentary seats, with the polling date for the president and 53 MPs set for July 15. These parties will be elected from a final list of candidates either proposed by political organisations or vying independently.

The diaspora is expected to vote on July 14.

The upcoming elections have seen a significant increase in engagement from the Rwandan diaspora, with approximately 53,000 Rwandans living abroad registering to vote, a substantial rise from the 21,000 who registered for the 2017 elections.

Other presidential hopefuls, including Phillipe Mpayimana, have announced their intention to submit their candidatures, with Mpayimana confirming that he has secured the required 600 required signatures.

Political parties are also gearing up for the elections, with the Liberal Party submitting its list of parliamentary representatives, joining the growing roster of participants in the democratic process.