Rwandan President Paul Kagame is poised to extend his 24-year rule by another five years, with a landslide victory in the recent election.
With most votes counted, he has secured an overwhelming 99.15% of the vote, with only 79% of ballots counted.
His two opponents, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, have garnered less than 1% of the vote combined.
In a speech at his party headquarters, Kagame expressed gratitude to Rwandans for their trust, emphasizing that the numbers reflect the people’s confidence in his leadership.
The results are unsurprising, mirroring the 2017 election outcome, where Kagame won with 98.8% of the vote.
The election has been criticized for lacking meaningful opposition, with leading figures banned and at least three aspirants disqualified, including outspoken critic Diane Rwigara.
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The electoral commission reports a high voter turnout of 98% of eligible voters, who also cast ballots for legislators and special seats for women, young people, and people with disabilities.
Kagame has been Rwanda’s de-facto leader since the 1994 genocide and president since 2000.
While his supporters credit him with economic growth and ending ethnic divisions, rights groups accuse him of curtailing freedoms. The final election results are expected by July 27.
