2017 Rwandan presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Rwanda on 4 August 2017. The incumbent President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, was re-elected to a third seven-year term with 98.79% of the vote.[1]

2017 Rwandan presidential election

4 August 2017
 
Nominee Paul Kagame Philippe Mpayimana Frank Habineza
Party RPF Independent DGP
Popular vote 6,675,472 49,031 32,701
Percentage 98.8% 0.7% 0.5%

President before election

Paul Kagame
RPF

Elected President

Paul Kagame
RPF

Background

A referendum in 2015 approved constitutional amendments that allow incumbent President Paul Kagame to run for a third term in office in 2017, as well as shortening presidential terms from seven to five years, although the latter change would not come into effect until 2024.[2]

Electoral system

The President of Rwanda is elected in one round of voting by plurality.[3]

Candidates

Kagame announced that he would run for a third term in a televised address to mark the start of 2016, saying "You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept. But I don't think that what we need is an eternal leader."[4]

In February 2017, Phillipe Mpayimana announced his candidacy as an independent candidate. A former journalist and author, he has lived outside Rwanda since 1994 and worked with humanitarian organisations.[5]

35-year-old businesswoman Diane Rwigara announced her candidacy, running as a critic of Kagame. Days after she launched her campaign, nude photos of Rwigara were leaked onto the Internet in an attempt to discredit her.[6] On 7 July the National Electoral Commission disqualified Rwigara and two other candidates on technical grounds,[7] alleging they had not collected enough valid signatures.[8][9] Amnesty International said that the election would be held in a "climate of fear and repression"[10] and the commission's decision was criticised by the US State Department and the European Union.[11][12]

Democratic Green Party of Rwanda leader Frank Habineza also declared his candidacy.

Provisional results

Candidate Party Votes %
Paul KagameRwandan Patriotic Front6,675,47298.79
Philippe MpayimanaIndependent49,0310.73
Frank HabinezaDemocratic Green Party of Rwanda32,7010.48
Invalid/blank votes12,310
Total6,769,514100
Registered voters/turnout6,897,07698.15
Source: NEC Rwanda

Following his victory, Kagame was sworn in for another term on 18 August 2017.[13]

References

  1. Rwanda's Kagame wins presidential election Sky News, 5 August 2017
  2. Paul Kagame's third term: Rwanda referendum on 18 December BBC News, 9 December 2015
  3. Rwanda IFES
  4. Rwanda's Paul Kagame to run for third presidential term BBC News, 1 January 2016
  5. Rwanda: Ex-Journalist to Face President Kagame in August Poll The East African, 6 February 2017
  6. Okey-Nwosu, Muna (9 May 2017). "Rwandese Presidential Candidate Diane Shima Rwigara isn't Backing Out Despite Leaked Nude Photos". Bella Naija.
  7. Gardner, Tom (4 August 2017). "Rwanda is like a pretty girl with a lot of makeup, but the inside is dark and dirty". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  8. Ssuuna, Ignatius (30 August 2017). "Former Rwandan Presidential Candidate Accused of Forgery". Bloomberg Politics. Associated Press. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  9. "Rwanda disqualifies only female presidential candidate". Reuters. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  10. "Three Rwandan Presidential Candidates Disqualified Amid Criticism". VOA News. Associated Press. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  11. "Police Investigating Critic Of Rwandan President For Forgery". PM News Nigeria. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  12. "Critic of Rwandan President Investigated for Forgery". The New York Times. Reuters. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  13. Clement Uwiringiyimana, "Rwanda's president strikes defiant note in inauguration", Reuters, 18 August 2017.
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