In a statement released on Wednesday July 17, 2024, the RPF expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support shown by Rwandans in the elections.
“It is yet another testament of the trust and confidence placed in our leadership and vision for Rwanda. We remain committed to working for national unity, sustainable development, and prosperity for all Rwandans,” reads the statement.
While waiting for the final results to be announced, RPF thanked all Rwandans and all friends of Rwanda for their support.
Rwandans went to the polls on July 14, 2024 (for the diaspora) and locally the elections were held on July 15 with special interest groups being voted for on July 16, 2024.
Partial results released put RPF-Inkotanyi candidate Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.15% followed Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana with 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.
The Foundation was forced into the raging debate about governance issues in Kenya early this week after President William Ruto claimed that proceeds from the foundation were being used to sponsor the protests.
Ruto had earlier challenged the Ford Foundation to explain the purpose of the money the foundation was giving to Kenyans threatening to throw them out of the country if nothing changed.
In a twist of events, the Foundation has strongly denied Ruto’s claims, stating that the organisation does not condone violence.
“While we acknowledge the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, we repudiate any actions or speeches that are hateful or advocate for violence against any institution, individual, or community. We did not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grant making,” the Ford Foundation said in a statement.
The Foundation has a long history of supporting social justice initiatives globally, including in Kenya, a mission it is vehemently committed to.
“As we noted during the Kenyan state visit to the United States this past May, we are committed to building on the legacy of the Ford Foundation’s more than 60 years in the region so that Kenyans can unlock opportunities that extend to all,” the organisation added.
{{Deadly protests
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The protests in Kenya have so far claimed 50 lives according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC). At least 20 of the victims were shot dead when angry protesters stormed Parliament buildings in Nairobi shortly after the passing of the Finance Bill 2024 on June 25.
The protests forced Ruto to make several concessions including the withdrawal of the controversial bill and recently firing his entire Cabinet.
President Ruto, in a surprise move, also scrapped operations budgets for the Office of the First Lady and that of the wife to the Deputy President.
However, despite the changes, Kenyans returned to the streets on Tuesday, demanding the President’s resignation.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Maraga described Rwanda’s polls as one of the most organized electoral processes he has ever witnessed.
“The electoral process was very orderly and peaceful. In fact, one of the best-organized I have ever seen. The organization was superb unlike in some places where elections are chaotic, rowdy, and noisy, even at the polling stations on polling day,” Maraga stated.
“My people gave me information from all the polling stations that there was no dancing, no noise in general, and it was very good,” he added.
Maraga’s delegation comprised 55 observers dispatched to different parts of the country on election day.
Apart from the EAC, other observer groups present during the elections included the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Others were from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and the electoral mission of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF).
In a joint statement, the observers affirmed that the electoral, political, and security environment in Rwanda before, during, and immediately after the elections was calm and peaceful.
“The National Electoral Commission and other institutions responsible for managing the electoral process have so far discharged their duty diligently in accordance with the electoral calendar,” reads the statement.
The observers commended the government for the successful election and also congratulated the people of Rwanda for exercising their democratic right.
Partial results announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Monday July 15, 2024 put President Paul Kagame in the lead with 99.15% followed Dr. Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana with 0.53% and 0.32% respectively.
Museveni was the first to condemn the gun attack that resulted in the Republican Party presidential candidate being rushed to hospital after being injured by a bullet in the upper part of his right ear.
Authorities confirmed that one person was killed and two others left in critical condition after the incident on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
“I condemn this despicable and cowardly assassination attempt that put his life and that of his supporters at risk. Such political violence undermines democracy ” Museveni said in a social media post 3 days after the shooting.
He also extended his condolences to the family that lost a loved one and to those injured in the barrage of gunfire.
“I wish His Excellency and all those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Museveni added.
Similarly, Kenya’s Ruto termed Saturday’s incident as “a shocking and heinous act”.
“In these troubling times, I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the democratic ideals we share with the people of the United States of America. I wish Donald Trump a speedy and full recovery,” he stated, while also extending sympathies to the other victims of the incident.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has since identified Trump’s attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Crooks, who was taken down by Secret Service agents, was a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles south of Butler, where Trump was holding his rally.
The young man shot at Trump from the roof of a shed outside the security cordon around the rally shortly after the former US president had started speaking.
At the time of the attack, the FBI stated that Crooks was not carrying any identification and had to be identified using DNA samples.
The 20-year-old worked as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. His job mainly entailed working alongside dietitians, dietary managers, and chefs to help prepare food for the nursing home.
Marcie Grimm, the administrator of the nursing home, said she was “shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement.”
Grimm mentioned that Crooks had no previous criminal record when he was hired.
Law enforcement officers said that the Crooks had requested an off from work on Saturday and had reportedly told colleagues that he had “something to do,” and he would be back at Sunday.
Background checks on Crooks revealed that he was a registered Republican voter. However, on January 20, 2021—two weeks after pro-Trump alt-right supporters stormed the White House—Crooks donated $15 to a grassroots Democratic group.
This year’s presidential election would have been his first voting.
President Joe Biden, who is seeking a second term in the forthcoming polls, has since also condemned the attack, stating that he was grateful Trump was “safe and doing well.”
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” Biden said in a statement.
Trump is running for a second, non-consecutive term in the November 5, 2024, general election after losing to Biden in the 2020 edition.
This comes shortly after Rwanda established its embassy in Pakistan and is expected to enhance cooperation in security, trade, health, and education between the two countries.
She presented the credentials on July 15, 2024 and becomes, the first Rwandan High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Speaking to Rwandan local media, Harerimana said that she has had discussions with President Zardari focusing on bilateral cooperation.
“The discussions focused on the cooperation and relations between Rwanda and Pakistan. We have had a longstanding relationship, but now we will particularly emphasize trade, health, education, and security,” she stated.
She added that President Zardari agreed to expedite the signing of agreements, including those promoting transportation between the two countries.
In addition, Pakistan has agreed to provide scholarships to Rwandan students for studies in Pakistan, particularly in the field of health.
On the same day, other envoys from Zimbabwe, Tajikistan, Argentina, Myanmar, Cambodia and Botswana also presented their letters of credence.
Rwandans elected their President and Members of Parliament on July 14, 15 and 16, 2024, following three weeks of campaigning. In an interview with a TV5 Monde journalist, Muyaya claimed that the elections in Rwanda were held in discretion and that no credible observers were present to monitor them.
He claimed to have only seen the RPF observer, not an observer from the European Union or any recognized election monitoring bodies.
In response, Nduhungirehe has rebuked Muyaya’ comments stating that Rwanda’s campaign and elections were largely calm, and peaceful unlike what happened in the DRC general elections on December 20, 2023.
He reminded Muyaya that elections in his country were marred by acts of violence and sometimes death, therefore he has not moral authority to criticize what happened in Rwanda.
“In the DRC elections, voting equipment was stolen in various places, some found in the homes of members of the ruling UDPS party, polling stations were vandalized, and citizens were prevented from voting,” Nduhungirehe said.
He highlighted constant insecurity and other political challenges in the DRC influenced by its government in which people including national army officers are executed due to their physical appearance.
On July 13, 2023, the spokesperson of Ensemble pour la Republique, the main opposition party in DRC was shot dead in his car in the capital Kinshasa.
Though the DRC government later said that this was a suicide, it was widely seen as a political assassination aimed at silencing political opponents in the country.
Overtime, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has portrayed himself as a violent person threatening to overthrow the government Rwanda or bomb its capital Kigali on several occasions.
Concerning the claim that “no reputable observation mission” was deployed in Rwanda during the elections, Nduhungirehe noted that several observation missions from five regional and international organizations, of which the DRC is a full member, were assigned in Kigali.
These include the African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).
“I was therefore unaware that the DRC government still lived in a bygone era of intellectual and moral ‘bleaching,’ to the point of trying to discredit African organizations of which it is a member,” he concluded.
The electoral commission announced that the elections went smoothly. This was confirmed by various observers who monitored them. Partial results showed that Paul Kagame, the candidate of RPF Inkotanyi, received 99.15% of the votes, Dr. Frank Habineza 0.53%, and Philippe Mpayimana 0.32%.
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East African Community (EAC) Heads of State led by Kenya’s William Ruto and Samia Suluhu of Tanzania joined other African leaders on Wednesday to extend their felicitations to Kagame.
President Ruto said he wishes Kagame success as he continues to steer Rwanda in the “path of peace, stability and posterity”.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Kenya, I have the pleasure to convey warmest congratulations upon your re-election to serve a further term as President of the Republic of Rwanda,” President Ruto stated in a post on X.
“We celebrate with you the sovereign choice of the people of Rwanda and wish you success as you continue steering your country in the path of peace, stability and posterity.”
President Ruto committed to enriching existing ties between Kenya and Rwanda and strengthening regional cooperation.
“I look forward to continuing working with you in regional and Pan-African affairs in strengthening the bonds of solidarity and fraternity between the peoples of Kenya and Rwanda.”
Similarly, President Suluhu has also pledged to continue partnering with Kagame to foster ties between the two countries.
“On behalf of the Government and the People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Paul Kagame, on being re-elected as the President of the Republic of Rwanda. I look forward to continue working with you in fostering the relations between our two countries and in the pursuit of East Africa’s unity and prosperity,” she stated.
Filipe Nyusi, the President of Mozambique, also extended best wishes to Kagame, saying, “Wishing you the best of luck as you assume the new mandate and responsibility entrusted to you by the People of Rwanda.”
Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissoco Embaló wrote, “On behalf of Guinea-Bissau, congratulations President Paul Kagame on your resounding re-election! I wish you a new term filled with peace, prosperity, and progress.”
{{Kagame on course for landslide victory}}
In partial results announced on Monday, 15, 2024, Kagame is leading with 99.15 percent of the votes cast. Dr. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, so far has 0.53 percent of the votes, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana is trailing with 0.32 percent.
At the time of the announcement of the results, Kagame had garnered 7,099,810 votes, Habineza had received 38,301 votes, and Mpayimana had obtained 22,753 votes at the national level.
The total number of votes tallied was 7,160,864, which represents 78.94 percent of the votes cast locally and in the diaspora.
The NEC will announce provisional results by July 20, with final results expected not later than July 27, 2024.
Following elections held on Monday, July 15, 2024, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) revealed that Kagame secured a resounding victory with 99.15% of the votes.
“This election process, the campaign we conducted first, the voting, and the results that have just been released, mean something significant in a person’s life; it symbolizes trust, for which I thank you,” President Kagame said.
He emphasized that trust is not easily earned and requires time and consistent effort. “Trust is built over time,” he added.
Reflecting on his leadership and the journey he has shared with the Rwandan people, Kagame noted the importance of facing challenges head-on.
“With this trust and all these years we have spent together solving many difficult challenges, was there ever a time when you saw me at a loss for solutions? I am never defeated by challenges,” he declared, reinforcing his commitment to overcoming obstacles with the continued support of the nation.
“Even in the difficult situations we have gone through or will go through in the future, trust is the reason for it all. Trust makes me confident that together, there is no challenge we will not surmount.”
The partial results also indicated that other presidential candidates, Dr. Frank Habineza of the DGPR party and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, received 0.53% and 0.32% of the votes, respectively.
By Monday, 7,160,864 votes had been counted, with an expected turnout of over nine million Rwandans and 98% voter turnout.
NEC is set to announce provisional results on July 20, with the final results expected on July 27.
Roth, a former executive director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), had claimed that if President Paul Kagame was re-elected with 99 percent of the vote it would be a mockery of the electoral process.
“Doesn’t Rwanda’s Paul Kagame realize that when he “wins” an “election” with some 99 percent of the vote, he mocks the whole process, making everyone realize he wanted a charade because he wouldn’t risk a real election,” the activist posted on X as Rwandans in the diaspora exercised their civic duty on July 14.
In a swift response, Makolo told the former head of the Human Rights Watch organization to stop meddling in Rwandan affairs.
“What process, whose process? People like Ken Roth need to get over the fact that they can never teach us how to live. Ever. Rwanda belongs to Rwandans. There’s a process in Ken’s country that needs serious attention – maybe focus on that?” Makolo stated in an apparent reference to the ongoing intense presidential election campaigns in the United States pitting President Joe Biden and former Head of State Donald Trump.
Rwandans in the diaspora went to the polls on Sunday to elect their president and members of parliament, while locals cast their votes on Monday.
Partial results announced by National Electoral Commission chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa on Monday night showed that Kagame of the RPF Inkotanyi party was on course to secure a landslide victory with 99.15 percent of the votes cast. His closest challenger, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, managed a mere 0.53 percent of the votes, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana got 0.32 percent.
Kagame had, during the campaign period, urged foreigners to respect Rwandans’ right to exercise their democracy by electing leaders of their choice.
Addressing a campaign rally in Muhanga District on June 24, 2024, the incumbent took issue with foreigners who claim there is no democracy in Rwanda, based on the fact that in 2003, 2010, and 2017 he was elected with nearly 100% of the votes. He explained that often in their countries, voter turnout is low.
He stated, “There are those who do not understand us, who do not understand Rwanda, but gradually, actions will speak to them. As we said before, 100%—some do not understand that 100% is democracy. How is 100% possible? They claim there is no democracy. I asked someone the other day, ‘Those governed by 15%, and those who voted are around 30% or 40% of those eligible—is that democracy? How so?’”
The RPF candidate emphasized that elections in Rwanda are solely the concern of Rwandans, as they are the ones who choose their leaders to guide them in building their nation. He urged foreign critics of Rwanda’s electoral process to address issues within their own countries instead of focusing on Rwandan elections.
