Rwanda is gearing up for its next presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for July 15, 2024. The incumbent president, Paul Kagame, who has been the de facto leader of Rwanda since the end of the 1994 genocide, is set to run for a fourth term. His long-standing leadership has seen him re-elected with significant majorities in the 2003, 2010, and 2017 elections, each time receiving over 90% of the vote.
Kagame, now 66 years old, has been a pivotal figure in Rwandan politics. His tenure has been marked by constitutional amendments made in 2015, allowing him to run for additional terms and potentially stay in power until 2034. This move has been met with controversy, with Kagame facing criticism from human rights groups for creating a climate of fear, stifling dissent, and restricting freedom of expression in Rwanda.
President of the African Greens Federation a coalition of 30 political parties and movements across the African Continent, Dr. Frank Habineza
The upcoming elections will also involve the selection of 53 deputies, with political organizations and independent candidates proposing their lists. The campaigning period for the candidates is set from June 22 to July 12, 2024. Additionally, the electoral process will include the election of 24 women parliamentarians, two youth representatives, and one representative for Rwandans with disabilities, to be chosen by electoral colleges and committees on July 16.
So far, Frank Habineza, the leader of the opposition Green Party, is the only other candidate to have announced his intention to run in the 2024 presidential election.
Kagame’s rule has been characterized by his firm grip on power and his influence on Rwandan politics and society. Despite international criticism, he has maintained a strong support base within the country, often highlighting Rwanda’s stability and economic development under his leadership. However, his administration’s approach to political dissent and media freedom remains a subject of international scrutiny.
