Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has set a new record by winning the latest election with over 99% of the vote, according to provisional results.
This is a higher percentage than his previous wins—98.63% in 2017, 93% in 2010, and 95% in 2003.
Critics argue that Kagame’s overwhelming majorities are expected because of his tight control over the country.
Supporters, however, attribute his success to his popularity, noting Rwanda’s stability and economic progress under his leadership.
Kagame, a former rebel leader, came to power in 1994 after ending a genocide that killed about 800,000 people.
The election saw two challengers—Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana—who received only 0.53% and 0.32% of the vote, respectively, much less than in the 2017 election.
Voter turnout was high at 98%, the electoral commission reported.
Human Rights Watch’s Clementine de Montjoye told AFP that Kagame’s 99% victory reflects the limited political space for opposition in Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni praised Kagame’s win, calling it a sign of Rwandans’ confidence in his leadership.
Despite high youth unemployment, Rwanda is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
Kagame promised to protect Rwanda from external threats during his campaign, addressing tensions with neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
This summary is based on information from BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnk413ze07lo