The 66-year-old has gained each election since 2000 and is closely favoured to win a five-year time period – having already modified the structure in 2015 to maintain energy.
His opponents are Frank Habineza of the Democratic Inexperienced Celebration of Rwanda and impartial candidate Philippe Mpayimana, each of whom struggled to draw supporters throughout campaigns.
Mr Kagame confronted the identical opponents in 2017, when he took almost 99 per cent of the vote.
Regardless of his obvious recognition – being closely predicted to win by a landslide as soon as extra – Mr Kagame is a controversial determine.
Right here is all you should know concerning the man who has been on the helm for twenty-four years and counting.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomes the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, to 10 Downing Road
PA Wire
Paul Kagame has been president of Rwanda since 2000 however has truly been on the forefront of energy since 1994.
Rwanda was locked in a civil conflict from 1990 to 1994 because of a long-running dispute between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic teams that fashioned the nation.
A Hutu-led republic had been established after the 1959-1962 revolution which led to the Tutsi group being pressured out.
In response, the Rwandan Patriotic Entrance (RPF) was established with Mr Kagame, a Tutsi, taking management after the demise of Fred Rwigyema in the beginning of the conflict.
The conflict grew to become more and more bloody till the height in 1994 when the ruling Hutu group launched into the Rwandan genocide with the goal of wiping the Tutsi group out.
As much as 800,000 Tutsis have been killed in addition to round 10,000 Twa ethnic group members. Extra average Hutus have been additionally killed in giant numbers.
The RPF ultimately gained and took management of the nation in 1994 with Mr Kagame turning into the de facto chief till his election in 2000.
Since then, Mr Kagame has instilled peace within the nation between the ethnic teams and there has even been financial development and a growth in tourism.
“Rwanda was 30 years in the past primarily written off – however due to some extent to the management below Kagame and his ruling celebration Rwanda managed to construct some stability,” Dr Felix Ndahinda, a scholar on the Nice Lakes area, informed the BBC.
A voter on Monday informed AP that the president may depend on his help as he had “by no means seen a frontrunner like him”.
Nevertheless, the steadiness is seen to have come at a price with Mr Kagame accused of suppressing any dissenting voices, allegations he denies.
He has additionally been fast to defend questions on Rwanda’s report on human rights with critics saying he has signed off on cross-border assassination efforts.
Donald Trump with Rwandan President Paul Kagame
AFP/Getty Pictures
How do Rwanda’s elections work?
Mr Kagame is amongst some African leaders who’ve extended their rule by pursuing adjustments to time period limits.
In 2015, Rwandans in a referendum voted to carry a two-term restrict. Now Kagame may keep in energy till 2034.
Voting started on Monday to elect the president and 53 members of the decrease Home of Parliament whereas 27 extra MPs will probably be elected on Tuesday.
AP reported there have been lengthy traces at polling stations, which opened at 5am.
Election authorities say 9.5 million Rwandans are registered to vote within the inhabitants of 14 million. Provisional outcomes are anticipated afterward Monday.
Mr Kagame informed reporters Saturday that his mandate comes from the individuals.
“The ruling celebration and Rwandans have been asking me to face for an additional mandate,” he mentioned. “At a private stage, I can comfortably go residence and relaxation.”
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