President Paul Kagame is aiming for a fourth term in office as Rwandans head to the polls on Monday.
In the 2017 presidential poll, Kagame won with an unusual landslide of 99%, despite accusations of steering the nation towards autocracy, killings, disappearances, media restrictions, and the arbitrary detention of the opposition.
However, he has also taken credit for building an African model economy, fostering stability after the genocide, and placing Rwanda at the centre of global affairs, especially regarding trade and immigration.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has raised red flags following the disqualification of Frank Habineza, the leader of Rwanda’s Democratic Green Party, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.
The rights group has complained of “severe restrictions as well as threats, arbitrary detention, prosecution, trumped-up charges, killings, and enforced disappearances”.
Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission has also barred Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, whose paperwork was deemed to be not in order.
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