Rwanda goes to the polls as incumbent President Kagame eyes fourth term

From Kigali, Rwanda

Voters in Rwanda on Monday lined up at various polling stations across the country to elect their next president and parliamentary representatives.

President Paul Kagame, the incumbent and candidate for the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), is widely expected to secure a fourth term in office.

More than 9 million Rwandans are registered to vote across 2,333 polling stations nationwide with provisional results expected by July 20.

Kagame faces opposition from Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, the same challengers he defeated in the 2017 elections.

Kagame initially rose to power as the leader of the rebel forces that ended the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

He served as vice president and the de facto leader from 1994 until 2000, when he officially became president.

While he is credited with revitalising Rwanda's economy and maintaining stability post-genocide, Kagame has also faced criticism for suppressing political opposition and restricting media freedoms.

This election sees Kagame running virtually unopposed, with only two opponents left to challenge him from the initial eight candidates who had applied.

Rwanda’s national electoral commission disqualified six others, including vocal Kagame critics Victoire Ingabire, Diane Rwigara and Bernard Ntaganda, for various reasons.

Kagame is set to cast his vote at APACOPE Polling Station, Mpayimana at EP Camp Kigali, and Habineza at Ecole Kimironko II Polling Station.

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