Africa

Rwanda’s Electoral Commission confirms Kagame’s re-election as president with 99.18% of votes

Rwanda's Electoral Commission confirms Kagame's re-election as president with 99.18% of votes

Jul 23. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission on Monday confirmed the victory of President Paul Kagame, who won 99.18 percent of the vote in last week’s general election, which will allow him to serve a fourth term as leader of the country.

Following the publication of the results, Kagame took to social media to express his gratitude for the messages of support and congratulations he had received from numerous regional and global leaders, and expressed his desire to continue collaborating with all of them to “benefit from the ties” between their respective peoples.

In total, the president has won just over 8.8 million votes, a landslide victory over his rivals, the leader of the Green Party, Frank Habineza, who won less than 44,500 votes (0.5 percent); and the independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, who garnered just over 28,400 votes (0.32 percent).

Last week, the organization had already predicted a resounding victory for the president with these same numbers after the vote count was completed and which it now offers as the final result.

Kagame, 66, became Rwanda’s de facto leader after rebels from the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) overthrew central authorities, dominated by Hutu extremists, following the 1994 genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus that left more than 800,000 dead over the course of about three months.

The president has achieved victory in the absence of strong rivals after the main opposition figures were ruled out and were unable to stand for election.

Kagame has managed to stabilise the country after the genocide and over the past three decades Rwanda has made economic and social progress, including its transformation into a centre for international conferences and sporting events, although over the past three decades numerous opponents have disappeared or been killed.

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