2017 Rwandan presidential election

2017 Rwandan presidential election

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Turnout98.15%
 
Nominee Paul Kagame Philippe Mpayimana
Party RPF Independent
Popular vote 6,675,472 49,031
Percentage 98.79% 0.73%

Results by district
Kagame:      >95%

President before election

Paul Kagame
RPF

Elected President

Paul Kagame
RPF

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,[1] allegedly with 98.79% of the vote on a 98.15% turnout.

Background

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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

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

Candidates

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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, Philippe Mpayimana announced his candidacy as an independent candidate. A former journalist and author, he had 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] The commission's decision was criticised by the US State Department and the European Union,[10][11] while Amnesty International said that the election would be held in a "climate of fear and repression."[12]

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

Results

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Paul KagameRwandan Patriotic Front6,675,47298.79
Philippe MpayimanaIndependent49,0310.73
Frank HabinezaDemocratic Green Party of Rwanda32,7010.48
Total6,757,204100.00
Valid votes6,757,20499.82
Invalid/blank votes12,3100.18
Total votes6,769,514100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,897,07698.15
Source: NEC Rwanda

Aftermath

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

References

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  1. ^ Rwanda's Kagame wins presidential election Archived 2017-08-05 at the Wayback Machine 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. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  5. ^ Kagire, Edmund (6 February 2017). "Rwanda: Ex-Journalist to Face President Kagame in August Poll". The East African. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  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. ^ "Police Investigating Critic Of Rwandan President For Forgery". PM News Nigeria. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Critic of Rwandan President Investigated for Forgery". The New York Times. Reuters. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Three Rwandan Presidential Candidates Disqualified Amid Criticism". VOA News. Associated Press. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  13. ^ Uwiringiyimana, Clement (18 August 2017). "Rwanda's president strikes defiant note in inauguration". Reuters. Retrieved 29 September 2022.