Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is poised for a fourth term, with provisional results indicating he has won over 99 percent of the vote, according to electoral authorities.
Kagame, who has effectively led the country for three decades, faced only two challengers after the courts disqualified his most prominent critics.
The National Electoral Commission announced late Monday that Kagame secured 99 percent of the vote, with 79 percent of ballots counted.
Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda garnered 0.53 percent, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32 percent, the commission reported.
Kagame’s current vote share surpasses the 98.7 percent he achieved in the 2017 election.
Eight other candidates were disqualified from running due to incomplete registration documents, according to the commission.
Full provisional results are expected by July 20, with final results due by July 27.
Kagame, 66, who has been president since 2000, expressed gratitude for his fourth term in an address from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
“The results presented indicate a very high score. These are not just figures. Even if it were 100 percent, these are not just numbers,” he said. “These figures reflect trust, which is what matters most. I am hopeful that together, we can solve all problems.”
With 65 percent of the population under 30, Kagame is the only leader the majority of Rwandans have ever known.
While he is credited with rebuilding the nation after the 1994 genocide, he is also accused of ruling through fear at home and contributing to instability in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kagame is among African leaders who have extended their time in office by amending term limits. In 2015, Rwandans voted in a referendum to lift a two-term limit, allowing Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034.
Despite criticism, Kagame remains popular for overseeing an average economic growth rate of 7.2 percent between 2012 and 2022 and for developing critical infrastructure, including hospitals and roads.
