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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 with 98.79% of the vote.[1]
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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 with 98.79% of the vote.[1]
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]
The President of Rwanda is elected in one round of voting by plurality.[3]
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.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Kagame | Rwandan Patriotic Front | 6,675,472 | 98.79 | |
| Philippe Mpayimana | Independent | 49,031 | 0.73 | |
| Frank Habineza | Democratic Green Party of Rwanda | 32,701 | 0.48 | |
| Total | 6,757,204 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 6,757,204 | 99.82 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 12,310 | 0.18 | ||
| Total votes | 6,769,514 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 6,897,076 | 98.15 | ||
| Source: NEC Rwanda | ||||
Following his victory, Kagame was sworn in for his third presidential term on 18 August 2017.[13]
