KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwandan President Paul Kagame appeared to have won Monday’s elections by a landslide, extending his control over this East African nation for another seven-term term, following a campaign clouded by charges of political repression, assassinations and media crackdowns.
Preliminary results released by the nation’s electoral commission early Tuesday morning showed Kagame — who ended the 1994 genocide that killed more than 800,000 people and has ruled ever since — winning 93 percent of the vote. In 2003, Kagama won Rwanda’s first election after the genocide with 95 percent of the vote. Final results are scheduled to be released by next week.
Even before the polls closed Monday, supporters of Kagame were celebrating.
Outside the capital city’s national stadium, several large white trucks carrying crates of beer waited. “It’s for the victory party,” declared a soldier at the gate.
The elections were tainted by accusations of political repression, murder and censorship, which Kagame denied.
On Monday, shortly after he cast his vote at a school, the 52-year-old guerrilla leader-turned-politician declared that the elections were democratic. “I see no problems, but there are some people who choose to see problems where there are not,” Kagame said.
Many Rwandans interviewed Monday chose to ignore the controversies surrounding their president, who his critics say is nothing but another strongman on the continent.
His supporters tout Kagame’s accomplishments, such as a growing economy and more rights for women.
But they said they were voting for him chiefly because of the stability he has brought to a country that was on the brink 16 years ago and is still haunted by its horrific past. Today, Rwanda is considered to be among the least- corrupt nations in Africa.
