Rwandans Vote in Election Expected to Continue Kagame’s 30-Year Rule

Rwandans voted on Monday in a presidential election likely to keep President Paul Kagame in power, a position he’s held since 1994. In the capital, Kigali, voters lined up early, some arriving by 5 a.m.

Jean Claude Nkurunziza, voting for the first time and working as a motorcycle taxi driver, supported Kagame, saying, “This is going to be my first time to vote. I am voting for President Kagame because I have never seen a leader like him before.”

About 9.5 million Rwandans are registered to vote in a country of 14 million people. Results are expected to come out later on Monday. The election is mostly seen as a sure win for Kagame, who has been criticized as being too controlling but faces little competition.

His main challengers are Frank Habineza from the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate. Both struggled to gain supporters. Kagame, who in 2017 won nearly 99% of the vote against these opponents, is expected to win easily again.

Habineza is hopeful about his chances, telling the Associated Press, “Our party has improved and we are confident we will perform very well this time.”

Kagame, now 66, first took control as the leader of a rebel group that ended the genocide in 1994. He’s been in charge since then, first as vice president, then as president. While he’s praised for improving the economy after the genocide, he’s also seen as a strict ruler. A vote in 2015 allowed him to possibly stay in power until 2034 by removing limits on how long a president can serve.

The election happens as there are increasing security worries in the region, especially with a group of rebels called M23 fighting in eastern Congo. Some say Rwanda supports these rebels.

Human rights groups are also speaking out about Rwanda limiting freedom and targeting those who oppose the government. Amnesty International recently expressed concerns over actions like threats, unfair arrests, and violence against opposition members. They say this fear limits open discussions in Rwanda.