By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has landed a fourth term in office after winning 99.15 percent of votes in the presidential poll where two candidates ran against him.
Partial result released by the electoral body seven hours after the Monday election came to an end, indicated that Kagame had won 99.15 percent of the votes, higher than the 98.79 percent he got in the last poll seven years ago.
The Democratic Green Party candidate, Frank Habineza secured only 0.53 per cent, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32 percent, with 79 percent of ballots counted.
In an address from the headquarters of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the 66-year-old thanked Rwandans for giving him another five years in office.
“The results that have been presented indicate a very high score, these are not just figures, even if it was 100 percent, these are not just numbers,” he said.
“These figures show the trust, and that is what is most important,” he added.
“I am hopeful that together we can solve all problems.”
Full provisional results are expected by July 20 and definitive results by July 27.
“In general, the electoral process happened in a safe and transparent atmosphere for Rwandans living abroad and at home,” the National Electoral Commission said in a statement.
With 65 percent of the population aged under 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known.
Often credited with rebuilding the traumatised East nation after the 1994 genocide, the Rwandan leader is also accused of ruling in a climate of fear at home, and fomenting instability in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
He has been in power since the end of genocide 30 years ago.
Kagame won with more than 93 percent of the vote in 2003, 2010 and in 2017, when he again easily defeated the same two challengers.
He has overseen controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential terms from seven to five years and reset the clock for the Rwandan leader, allowing him to potentially rule until 2034.
