Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, has swept to another overwhelming election victory, winning more than 99% of votes in a provisional count in the east African country’s elections that will extend his near quarter of a century in power.
The poll on Monday was seen as a formality, with just two other candidates allowed to compete in a country that is kept under tight control by its longtime leader.
With 79% of ballots counted, the president had secured 99.15%, the election commission said, seven hours after polls closed.
Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green party secured just 0.53% of the vote, while the independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana got 0.32%.
“The results that have been presented indicate a very high score, these are not just figures; even if it was 100%, these are not just numbers,” Kagame said in an address from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party.
“These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important. I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems.”
Kagame led the RPF when it was a rebel group, defeating extremist Hutu forces and ending the 1994 genocide that killed more than 800,000 people, mostly members of the Tutsi ethnic minority.
He became vice-president and defence minister and was elected president by parliament in 2000 after Pasteur Bizimungu resigned.
Since then Kagame has won more than 90% of the vote in Rwanda’s previous three elections – in 2003, 2010 and 2017. Constitutional amendments have shortened presidential terms to five years and allowed him to rule until 2034.
The 66-year-old has been credited with bringing unity, stability and development to the small, landlocked country. But critics have accused his administration of suppressing dissent and trampling on human rights.