Why is this election important?
Rwanda's presidential and parliamentary elections are underway this year Thirty years after the genocide About 800,000 people were killed.
President Paul Kagame, who helped end the bloodshed, has been in power ever since and is expected to win again in the July 15 election. Under his rule, the Central African nation of Rwanda has made major economic progress and become a leading contributor to United Nations peacekeeping forces. But critics say Mr. Kagame has also overseen a state accused of Massive human rights violations and where Power and wealth Served the Tutsi elite.
The elections come amid rising tensions between Congo and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Kagame has accused Congolese officials of supporting Hutu rebels who fled after committing genocide in 1994 and who he says plan to return to finish their work. Mr. Kagame has been accused of supporting the rebels and sowing chaos in eastern Congo, where they have committed massacres and displaced tens of thousands of people.
As election season begins, the president touts his country's readiness Receiving immigrants Deported from the UK Controversial plan Policy analysts and opposition leaders say that may never happen. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Delayed The first deportation flights will depart after the UK general election on July 4.
Who is running? Who is likely to win?
Kagame, 66, is expected to win a fourth term, according to observers. (Rwanda does not have independent elections.) In 2015, he oversaw a referendum that Changing term limitsensuring that he can extend his term until 2034.
He won 2017 Mr. Kagame received nearly 99 percent of the vote in an election that observers say was rigged. Arrests and prosecutions of opposition members, intimidation of activists and the coercion of many voters to choose Mr. Kagame all suggest the election was not free and fair, independent observers and Rights groups explain.
So far, there are two candidates – Frank Habineza, leader of the Rwandan opposition Democratic Green Party and Diane RegalaOpposition figures who were barred from running in the 2017 election have submitted presidential candidacy documents to the National Electoral Commission, indicating their intention to run. The body can accept their documents but has the power to reject or cancel their candidacy later.
Victoria IngabireMs. Ingabil, a fierce critic of Mr. Kagame, had also expressed interest in running, but in March this year a Rwandan court blocked her from running because of her past convictions for terrorism and genocide denial. Ms. Ingabil was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but Mr. Kagame Commuting She was sentenced to prison in 2018. In April this year, she filed a lawsuit with the East African Court of Justice challenging a recent ruling by a Rwandan court.
The Electoral Commission is expected to announce the final list of presidential candidates in mid-June.
How do people vote in Rwanda?
The electoral commission says about 9.5 million people have registered so far to vote in this year's presidential and parliamentary elections. Up to 2 million of them are first-time voters.
The election will be Three daysOn July 14, Rwandans living abroad will begin voting at Rwandan embassies and diplomatic missions abroad. On July 15, Rwandan voters will go to the polls to elect the president and 53 of the 80 seats in the lower house of parliament. On July 16, the remaining 27 members of parliament, including youth and disabled representatives, will be elected.
When will we know the results?
The Electoral Commission will announce provisional election results on July 20 and final results on July 27, about two weeks after polling day.
