Rwanda elections: Paul Kagame wins 99% of votes in partial results

Rwandan President Paul Kagame looks set to extend his 24-year rule for another five years after winning a landslide victory, with most votes counted in Monday’s election.

He has so far obtained 99.15% of the votes, after counting about 79% of the votes, according to the partial results announced by the electoral commission.

Putin, 66, faced no real opposition, with prominent figures banned from running. His rivals received less than 1% of the vote.

Mr. Kagame thanked Rwandans for their trust, in a speech at the headquarters of his party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front.

“These are not just numbers, even if it is 100%, these are not just numbers. [They] “We need to show confidence, that is the most important thing,” Kagame said.

His rivals – environmentalist Frank Habineza and former journalist and government adviser Philippe Mbayimana – received 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.

Full preliminary results are due by July 20, and final results by July 27.

The results were not surprising.

This election mirrors the results of the 2017 election in which the same candidates ran – and which Mr Kagame won with 98.8% of the vote.

The electoral commission said 98 percent of more than 9.5 million eligible voters participated in the election.

They were voting for a president and 53 members of the legislature.

Elections are scheduled to be held on Tuesday for 27 seats reserved for women, youth and people with disabilities.

Mr. Kagame has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since the end of the genocide in 1994 and president since 2000.

Human rights groups accuse him of restricting freedoms since taking office, while his supporters say he has overseen economic growth and helped end ethnic divisions.