The Rwandan Electoral Commission has unveiled the final lists of candidates for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for next July.
The final lists include three presidential candidates: the incumbent President Paul Kagame, from the ruling party (Rwandan Patriotic Front), the head of the Green Democratic Party (opposition), Frank Habineza, and the independent candidate, Philippe Mpayimana.
The electoral commission also validated the applications of 459 candidates competing for the 80 seats in parliament.
The Rwandan authorities will hold both the presidential and legislative elections on July 15. These elections will be the first to be held simultaneously, following a constitutional amendment adopted last March allowing the combination of the two elections.
According to the electoral commission, around 9.5 million Rwandan voters are expected to go to the polls to elect the country's president and members of parliament.
The incumbent President, Paul Kagame, seeks to consolidate his power and continue economic reforms, while his opponents, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, advocate for a change of direction.
Kagame, who has led Rwanda since 2000, remains the frontrunner in this election. His popularity remains high due to decades of sustained economic growth and development policies that have transformed the country into a model of stability and progress in Africa. The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) also benefits from a well-oiled political machine capable of effectively mobilizing voters.
International observers will closely monitor the conduct of the elections.
The July 15 poll is therefore set to be decisive for the country's future trajectory, with both national and regional implications.
