Silverio Omari
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has praised the Rwandan electoral system, calling it “well-organised.”
“The electoral process was very peaceful and orderly. In fact, one of the best electoral processes I have seen,” Maraga, the head of the EAC Election Observation Mission, stated.
Maraga highlighted the peaceful nature of the elections, contrasting them with other countries where the democratic exercise can be chaotic and noisy, even at the polling stations.
“That was not witnessed here at all. My people reported from all the polling stations that there was no dancing, no noise generally,” he said.
“We have mentioned that in our report, and we will also include it in our final report.”
However, a joint statement by the AU and COMESA made some recommendations to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for improvement. The statement urged the electoral body to build the capacity and raise awareness of polling staff on the role of observers and to consider providing election-related information readily online in all the official languages.
“Review the deployment and assignment of volunteers in polling stations to consider ways of further expediting the voting process,” the statement reads in part.
In the elections, Paul Kagame was reelected for a fourth term in a landslide victory.
President William Ruto has already congratulated Kagame on his reelection.
“I have the pleasure to convey warmest congratulations upon your re-election to serve a further term as President of the Republic of Rwanda,” Ruto said.
Ruto celebrated the sovereign choice of the people and wished Kagame success in steering his nation to the next level.
“We celebrate with you the sovereign choice of the people of Rwanda and wish you success as you continue steering your country on the path of peace, stability, and prosperity,” Ruto said.
“I look forward to continuing working with you in regional and Pan-African affairs in strengthening the bonds of solidarity and fraternity between the peoples of Kenya and Rwanda,” he added.
Kagame has been President of Rwanda since 2000 and has dominated every election since, winning over 90 percent of the vote. He has been at the helm of Rwandan politics since his rebel forces took power at the end of the 1994 genocide, which killed some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus. In 2017, he won with a staggering 99 percent of the vote.
Dj Vnyash
