Rwandan President Paul Kagame has officially declared his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for July 15.
Paul Kagame, who has been president since 2000, was designated as the candidate of the ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), following the party's approval at its congress in March.
The upcoming elections will cover both the presidency and parliamentary seats. According to the electoral calendar, candidates have until May 30 to submit their candidacies.
According to the National Electoral Commission, about 9.5 million Rwandans are eligible to vote in this year's elections. Voter participation is crucial for the democratic process, and the Electoral Commission has implemented several initiatives to encourage high turnout, including awareness campaigns and improving access to polling stations in rural areas.
President Kagame is often credited with the stability and economic development of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide. His influence and popularity within the RPF-Inkotanyi remain strong, giving him a significant advantage in the electoral race. In the last presidential election in 2017, Kagame was re-elected with 98.79% of the votes. Voter turnout was very high, reaching 96.42%.
