Rwandans queued up peacefully on Monday to vote for their next president, with current President Paul Kagame widely expected to secure a fourth term. Kagame, representing the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF), has been in power for nearly 25 years.
His two opponents, Frank Habineza from the Democratic Green Party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, have expressed hopes of making some progress. However, experts and human rights organizations believe Kagame’s victory is almost certain.
Kagame, who garnered over 93% of the vote in the past three elections, has been praised by Western and regional leaders for his role in ending the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Nevertheless, campaign groups like Human Rights Watch have criticized his government for allegedly targeting journalists, opposition figures, and civil society organizations in the lead-up to the election. Kagame has denied these allegations, positioning himself as a candidate for stability.
While Kagame’s extended tenure may signal political stability in a divided region, it also draws ongoing international scrutiny due to accusations of misconduct and backing rebels in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo—charges that Kagame has refuted.