Rwanda's President Paul Kagame Seeks Fourth Term in Upcoming Election

Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda since 2000 and de facto leader since 1994, is facing re-election for a fourth term. Despite being credited with transforming Rwanda into a united country and regional business hub, his opponents claim they have been threatened and arbitrarily detained. Kagame's main challengers are Frank Habineza and independent Philippe Mpayimana, who were the only two candidates approved to run against him out of eight applicants after several prominent critics were barred from standing.

Rwanda is set to hold presidential and parliamentary elections next week, with approximately 9.7 million eligible voters choosing representatives for the next five years. Incumbent President Paul Kagame, who has led the country since the 1994 genocide, is expected to win again due to his lack of significant opposition. In previous elections, Kagame received nearly 99% of the vote in 2017, with some critics questioning the legitimacy of such a high margin of victory. The African Intellectual Property Organization recently awarded Attieké, Ivory Coast's traditional cassava dish, for its cultural significance and widespread consumption.