Rwandan presidential election, 2017

Rwandan presidential election, 2017
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

Rwanda
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Rwanda

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]

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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