The campaign for Rwanda’s upcoming presidential election on July 15 commenced on Saturday, marked by the participation of nine million registered voters. This election is notable for its simultaneous inclusion of legislative elections for the first time.
Paul Kagame, who first assumed the presidency through parliamentary election in 2000 and subsequently re-elected via universal suffrage in 2003, 2010, and 2017, each time garnering over 90% of the vote, will once again compete. His opponents from the 2017 election, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, are among those challenging his candidacy.
However, prominent opposition figures such as Victoire Ingabire and Bernard Ntaganda have been disqualified from running due to previous convictions. Diane Rwigara, despite being acquitted in 2018, had her candidacy invalidated due to non-compliant documents.
A constitutional amendment in 2015 reduced presidential terms from seven to five years, potentially allowing Kagame to extend his tenure until 2034 if re-elected.
In conjunction with the presidential race, legislative elections are being held, featuring more than 500 candidates vying for 80 parliamentary seats. Voters will directly elect 53 representatives, while 27 seats are designated for women, youth, and disabled individuals and will be chosen indirectly.
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