Rwanda's Electoral Commission Clears Candidates for July 15 Presidential Elections

In Summary

• President Paul Kagame, Frank Habineza, and Phillippe Mpayimana are the Cleared Candidates
• Blocked Candidates include Diane Rwigara, Jean Mbanda, Herman Manirabera, Fred Barafinda Sekikubo, Thomas Habimana, and Innocent Hakizimana.
• Approximately 9.5 million people have registered to vote in this year's elections as the Voting Population
• Presidential and parliamentary elections to be held on July 15.
• Official campaign period is from June 22 to July 13.

Kigali, Rwanda—Rwanda’s electoral commission has cleared three candidates, including President Paul Kagame, to run in the July 15 presidential elections. The other two candidates are the leader of the Green Party, Frank Habineza, and independent candidate Phillippe Mpayimana.

President Kagame's vocal critic, Diane Rwigara, is among the six candidates locked out by the electoral commission for failing to meet the minimum requirements, at least for now. A total of nine aspirants had submitted their presidential bids to the electoral commission by the deadline day of May 30.

Only two candidates are sponsored by political parties: President Paul Kagame of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front and Habineza of the Green Party. All other seven aspirants registered to run as independent candidates.

Rwanda's electoral commission said the 42-year-old Rwigara failed to provide a criminal record statement and did not gather enough signatures endorsing her bid. Instead of submitting a certificate showing she has never been convicted of a crime for more than six months, she brought a court judgment that had declared her innocent of the 2017 charges.

The state had arraigned her in court over allegations of incitement and forgery of signatures. The electoral board stated she did not provide at least 12 signatures from eight separate districts. Rwandan electoral law demands that at least 12 of the endorsement signatures must come from each of the country's 30 districts.

Rwigara's first presidential bid in 2017 was thwarted over alleged forgery of endorsement signatures, an allegation the High Court sitting in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, did not accept in late 2018.

The other candidates barred from the July presidential election are Jean Mbanda, Herman Manirabera, Fred Barafinda Sekikubo, Thomas Habimana, and Innocent Hakizimana. Rwanda's electoral commission is expected to publish the final list of presidential candidates on June 14.

The six barred candidates might still get a lifeline should they meet the requirements. The electoral agency has said those locked out over missing documents can submit them before June 14.

66-year-old Paul Kagame, who won the 2017 elections with nearly 99% or 6.7 million votes, is seeking a fourth term in office. In 2015, Rwanda changed its constitution, allowing Kagame to possibly stay in power until 2034.

Phillippe Mpayimana, the other cleared candidate, ran for president in 2017 and received 0.7% or 49,000 votes.

Frank Habineza, also a candidate in the 2017 election, amassed 0.5% or 33,000 votes. This time around, he has promised Rwandans food security should he win this year's presidential election.

In addition to the presidential race, 53 parliamentary seats will also be contested on July 15.

The upcoming elections are a pivotal moment for Rwanda, and the electoral commission's decisions are crucial in shaping the country's political landscape. The international community will be watching closely as the events unfold and as Rwanda continues its democratic process.