Rwandans are set to head to the polls on Monday, July 15, 2024, to elect their next president.
Incumbent President Paul Kagame is running for reelection and is widely expected to win, according to analysts.
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Approximately nine million Rwandans are registered to vote in this election, which will be held concurrently with legislative elections, a first for the nation.
The election occurs three decades after the 1994 genocide, which resulted in the deaths of around 800,000 people.
Kagame has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since the genocide ended.
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Initially elected by parliament in 2000 following the resignation of former President Pasteur Bizimungu, Kagame has since secured three electoral victories with over 90% of the vote, including nearly 99% in the 2017 election.
At 66 years old, Kagame has overseen controversial constitutional changes that could allow him to remain in power until 2034.
These changes reduced presidential terms from seven to five years and reset the term limits, enabling Kagame to serve in a transitional capacity from 2017 to 2024 and then potentially for two additional five-year terms.
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The legislative elections will see over 500 candidates vying for 53 out of 80 parliamentary seats.
The remaining 27 seats are reserved for independents, including 24 women, two youth representatives, and one representative for people with disabilities.
Kagame’s party and its allies currently control 49 of the 53 elected seats in the lower house.
During a rally in Musanze, Kagame addressed a large crowd, defending Rwanda’s democratic practices amidst criticisms of suppressing opposition.
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“People usually disagree on democracy or understand it differently. But for us, we have our own understanding of it. Democracy means choice, choosing what is good for you and what you want,” he said to cheering supporters. “Nothing is better than being Rwandan, but even better, nothing is better than being your leader… I came here to thank you, not to ask for your votes.”
