LIVE: Rwandans vote in presidential and parliamentary elections
Follow GSW's live coverage of Rwanda's Election 2024, which will see the country choose between three presidential candidates and over 500 aspiring MPs.
LIVE UPDATES
This is the end of our live coverage. Thank you for following. Follow GSW for updates and final declaration of the election results by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Rwanda.
2000 GMT: Preliminary results from the National Electoral Commission (NEC), after counting 79% of the votes, indicate another resounding victory for Paul Kagame. NEC announced that Paul Kagame received 99.15% of the votes, while Dr. Frank Habineza secured 0.53%, and Philippe Mpayimana garnered 0.32%.
1900 GMT: The preliminary results of the presidential election will be announced on the national radio and television at 10:00pm, NEC says.
1621 GMT: Rwandans share expectations after voting.
1630 GMT: Kagame and his party, RPF Inkotanyi, lead the vote count at a polling station in Kabeza, Kicukiro, Kigali.
1500 GMT: Counting officially commences as polls close in many polling stations across the country. Many polling stations were reported to have completed the exercise by 3 p.m., the time officially set by the National Electoral Commission (NEC). However, in some areas, an extension was granted to allow people still in the queues a chance to cast their ballots.
1400 GMT: Partial results to be announced by evening of July 15, the NEC says.
1300 GMT: Polls are expected to have officially closed by now, according to the NEC. Vote counting should begin right after voting stops.
1245 GMT: Persons with disability are assisted to vote in the ongoing process.
1234 GMT: Less than an hour to go before polls close. Voters continue to wait in line to cast their votes.
1107 GMT: President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame cast their votes.
1100 GMT: Voters continue to wait in line to cast their votes some two hours before polls officially close.
0920 GMT: Voting has passed the halfway mark as Rwandans continue to cast their votes at various polling stations across the nation. Voter turnout is high.
0912 GMT: Presidential candidate Frank Habineza after casting his vote, tells the press he is confident of securing a win in the elections. He added that the voting process "is a very good show of the level of growth and democracy" in Rwanda.
0855 GMT: Some voters encounter challenges updating their location in the online voter registry system.
0836 GMT: Presidential candidate Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda casts his vote.
0826 GMT: Independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana casts his vote at a polling station in Kigali.
0814 GMT: 3 hours on and voting continues across polling stations nationwide.
0746 GMT: Sisters of President Kagame voted at a polling station in Gasabo a district in Kigali.
0745 GMT: Voters line up at the SOS Kinyinya Polling Station where President Paul Kagame, the RPF presidential candidate is expected to cast his vote.
0740 GMT: Ian Kagame, first son of President Paul Kagame casts his vote at the SOS Kinyinya Polling Station where his father is also expected to vote.
0714 GMT: Over two hours of voting have taken place with no sign of violence in any of the polling stations. Elections carry on peacefully as Rwandans continue to cast votes.
0643 GMT: Voting takes place peacefully at a polling station in Gasabo, a district in the capital city of Kigali.
0652 GMT: Some polling stations provide breakfast to voters.
0636 GMT: Voting continues to take place an hour and a half since polls officially opened.
0616 GMT: First-time voters and early voters share their experiences.
0551 GMT: Some voters have cast their ballots as others line to vote less than an hour after polls opened.
0500 GMT: Voting is expected to start at this time nationwide as polls officially open.
0400 GMT: Rwandans arrive early at polling stations to vote.
July 14: Rwandans abroad cast their votes.
Polls open at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and close at 3:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT on Monday).
ELECTIONS BACKGROUND
Rwanda has had five presidents since the establishment of the office. The current president, Paul Kagame of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), who has been in power since 2000 after having played a pivotal role in ending the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, is seeking a fourth term.
Following a constitutional referendum in December 2015, the previous two-term limit on the presidency was lifted, allowing Kagame to run for a third seven-year term and potentially for two additional five-year terms.
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has confirmed two other candidates to run alongside Kagame: Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.
In addition to the presidential race, up to 589 candidates are competing for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Over nine million Rwandans are registered to vote in these elections, with two million being first-time voters. The NEC has set up about 2,600 polling stations, including 160 stations for Rwandans in the diaspora who cast their votes on Sunday, July 14.
Special interest groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, will have their parliamentary elections on Tuesday, July 16.
Preparation for the elections began on Friday, July 12, with the distribution of voter materials. The NEC dispatched ballot papers, voter lists, and electoral ink to all districts across the country. Additionally, more than 1,000 local and foreign election observers have been accredited by the NEC.
Vote counting is scheduled to commence immediately after voting concludes.
Candidates
Paul Kagame
President Paul Kagame, leader of the RPF and a dominant figure in Rwandan politics, is expected to secure a fourth term. He has faced criticism from opposition groups and international watchdogs for his administration's crackdown on dissent. Kagame was Rwanda's vice president and de facto leader from 1994 to 2000, after which he officially became president. He has been re-elected multiple times (2000, 2003, 2010, and 2017) and is largely unchallenged in his leadership.
Frank Habineza
Frank Habineza, the founder and president of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), is one of Kagame's opposition. Habineza has a history of political activism and has faced major challenges, including fleeing to Sweden in 2010 due to safety concerns. Despite these, he successfully registered the DGPR in 2013.
Philippe Mpayimana
Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate and journalist, is also running against Kagame after having lived in exile since the 1994 genocide, primarily in France and Belgium. Mpayimana is hopeful about garnering support from the Rwandan diaspora.
Electoral system
The President of Rwanda is elected by a simple majority vote and serves a seven-year term. Initially limited to two terms, the constitution was amended in 2015 to allow for extended tenure, drawing international criticism.
Rwanda's bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, with both chambers representing the people, passing laws, and overseeing executive actions.
Voter eligibility
Every Rwandan aged 18 and above, who is registered on the voters' register and not subjected to disenfranchisement, is eligible to vote. This includes Rwandans residing both in the country and abroad. However, certain individuals, such as those convicted of serious crimes or those with mental illness, are prohibited from voting as per the electoral law.
