Rwandan election rife with likely corruption
U.S. ‘disturbed’ as Kagame receives 99 per cent of vote
KIGALI, RWANDA— The United States said Saturday it was “disturbed by irregularities observed during voting” in Rwanda’s election, which longtime President Paul Kagame won with nearly 99 per cent of the vote.
A state department statement reiterated “long-standing concerns over the integrity of the vote-tabulation process.”
Kagame easily won a third term in office in what he had called “a formality.” He will embark upon another seven years leading the small East African nation praised for its economic performance but criticized for its silencing of opponents.
Electoral authorities said Kagame won 98.63 per cent of the vote. Neither of his two challengers won a full percentage point. More than 90 per cent of Rwanda’s 6.9 million voters cast their ballots.
The U.S. statement also said it remains “concerned by the lack of transparency in determining the eligibility of prospective candidates,” and it commended Rwanda’s media for reporting on complaints of harassment of some opposition candidates.
Kagame faced two challengers, while three others were disqualified for allegedly failing to fulfil requirements including collecting enough signatures.
“This election was criticized so much due to me continuing to be your leader, especially people from outside the country because they oppose the will of Rwandans,” the president told jubilant supporters Saturday. “But Rwandans have shown that it was not manipulated by anyone but their own will.”
Kagame has led the country of 12 million people since his rebels helped to end its genocide in 1994 in which more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred by Hutu extremists.
The 59-year-old president has been praised for the country’s economic growth, but human rights groups accuse his government of using state powers to silence any opposition. Rwandan authorities, including the president, deny it.
A constitutional amendment in 2015 allows Kagame to stay in power until 2034 if he pursues it. The United States, a key Rwanda ally, opposed the change to the constitution. Kagame has accused some Western diplomats of meddling in the country’s affairs.
Kagame was running against Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda — the only permitted opposition party — and independent candidate and former journalist Philippe Mpayimana. Habineza received 0.47 per cent of the vote. Mpayimana received 0.73 per cent.