Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ Thousands of Rwandans living abroad participated in voting at their nearest diplomatic missions on Sunday, deciding who will lead their country as president and serve in the parliament for the next five years. This marked the start of Rwanda’s general election, which officially takes place on Monday across the nation.
In Kenya, Rwandan citizens flocked to Mombasa Sports Club to cast their ballots. President Paul Kagame, running for his fourth term, is widely expected to win against his two challengers. The polling station opened at 8 a.m., with the first vote cast promptly. More than 350 registered voters in the coastal city were expected to participate, providing identification for registration verification, including passports with entry dates into Kenya.
The Mombasa polling station serves all Rwandan residents in the coastal region, including those from Kwale, Lamu, Kilifi, Tana River, and Taita Taveta. Initially, the queue was short, but the number of voters increased steadily. Election officials anticipated a turnout exceeding 90%.
Rwanda joins Kenya and South Sudan as one of the few East African Community bloc countries allowing its diaspora to vote. Kenya has held diaspora voting twice in general elections, while South Sudan allowed its diaspora to vote in the referendum that led to its secession from Sudan. However, South Sudan has yet to hold a general election.
The election followed three weeks of campaigning by the presidential candidates. Innocent Muvunyi, a Rwandan living in Thailand, travelled to Singapore to vote at the Rwandan High Commission. Gatarayiha Elsa, a first-time voter from Nairobi, expressed pride in participating in the election, emphasizing the importance of voting as a civic responsibility.
Over 2 million Rwandans, many born after the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) came to power 30 years ago, are voting for the first time. Rwanda has transformed significantly since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, becoming one of Africa’s financial hubs. Approximately 62,000 Rwandans in the diaspora are voting from 70 countries, a substantial increase from the 22,000 who participated in the previous presidential election.
President Kagame, addressing supporters in Gahanga, Kicukiro, during his final campaign rally, declared the election as good as won. He emphasized the importance of unity, progress, security, and development while dismissing Western critics who accuse him of suppressing free speech and undermining human rights.
On Monday, over 9.5 million Rwandans were expected to vote, with polling stations opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 3 p.m. at about 2,600 polling stations in Rwanda, including 160 abroad, and special provisions are made for patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers at hospitals. Today, representatives of women, youth, and people with disabilities will be elected by electoral colleges. The National Electoral Commission has accredited over 1,000 election observers, including teams led by former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga and former Cabo Verde President Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca.
