The election commission said on Tuesday that Rwanda will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on July 15 of the next year. President Paul Kagame is expected to seek reelection to a fourth term in power.
The National Electoral Commission said on X, formerly Twitter, “Across the nation, Monday, July 15, 2024, is the polling date for the president of the Republic and 53 deputies elected from a list proposed by political organisations or for independent candidates.”
For many years, the landlocked African nation has been dominated by Kagame, 66, with an iron grip.
In 2015, he oversaw contentious constitutional reforms that extended his term limits and extended his rule until 2034.
Former rebel chief Kagame was elected president in April 2000, although since the genocide in 1994, he has essentially served as the nation’s de facto leader.
With over 90% of the vote, he was re-elected in the elections of 2003, 2010 and 2017.
Frank Habineza, the leader of the opposition Green Party, declared in May that he will run against Kagame in the forthcoming elections. Habineza is the sole recognised opponent of Kagame.
From June 22 until July 12, candidates may run for office, according to the election commission.
Despite Rwanda’s claim to be among the most stable in Africa, human rights organisations charge Kagame of creating an atmosphere of fear and suppressing free expression and criticism.
In March, the Rwandan government made the decision to hold the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections on the same dates.
