Rwanda’s ruling get together on Saturday picked President Paul Kagame as its candidate for the July election, teeing up a contest broadly anticipated to return the longtime chief to workplace for a fourth seven-year time period.
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The 66-year-old has dominated over the landlocked African nation with an iron fist for many years and received the presidency in elections in 2003, 2010 and 2017 – with greater than 90 p.c of the vote.
Kagame’s candidacy was unopposed in the course of the Rwandan Patriotic Entrance congress that ended Saturday, the get together mentioned.
Kagame’s solely identified challenger within the July polls is opposition Inexperienced Occasion chief Frank Habineza.
The 47-year-old member of parliament secured solely 0.45 p.c of the poll within the 2017 election, coming third in polls that rights teams criticised for irregularities and voter intimidation.
The opposite potential challenger to Kagame, Victoire Ingabire, chief of the unregistered Dalfa Umurunzi (Growth And Liberty For All) motion, is blocked from the presidential race on account of a previous conviction.
A court docket resolution on whether or not she will probably be allowed to contest the presidency is ready for March 13.
Rwanda will maintain presidential and parliamentary polls on July 15 after the federal government determined final 12 months to synchronise the dates for the votes.
Twenty-four girls MPs, two youth representatives and a consultant for disabled Rwandans will probably be chosen by electoral faculties and committees on July 16.
Candidates will probably be allowed to marketing campaign from June 22 till July 12, based on the election calendar.
Whereas Rwanda lays declare to being some of the steady nations in Africa, rights teams accuse Kagame of ruling in a local weather of concern that stifles dissent and free speech.
(AFP)