Rwandans will decide among three presidential candidates and over 500 aspiring MPs in the July 15th elections. The Rwanda National Electoral Commission unveiled the list of candidates on Friday (Jun. 14).
Paul Kagame, who has been president for 23 years and leads the Rwandan Patriotic Front since 1998, will face opposition from Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. A total of nine candidates submitted their candidacy to the National Electoral Commission.
Habineza, who ran in the previous presidential election, secured less than 2% of the vote. Kagame has previously won elections in 2003, 2010, and 2017 with over 90% of the vote.
Critics and rights groups accuse Kagame of governing in an environment of fear that suppresses dissent and freedom of speech. In April, the Liberal Party (PL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) joined four smaller political parties in endorsing Kagame, who is also backed by the ruling RPF coalition.