President Paul Kagame, the RPF-Inkotanyi candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, officially presented his candidature to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the RPF Vice-Chairperson, the RPF Secretary-General, and RPF commissioners, President Kagame took this significant step ahead of the elections scheduled for July 15, 2024.
In parallel, the NEC also received the list of candidates representing RPF-Inkotanyi in the parliamentary elections. This submission is a crucial part of the preparations for the simultaneous presidential and parliamentary polls.
The NEC has announced that it has secured the entire budget required to organize the elections from internal government resources.
The total amount, Rwf 8.5 billion ($6.6 million), has been allocated without soliciting donor funding, reflecting the commission’s commitment to self-sufficiency. To further cut costs, the commission plans to utilize 100,000 volunteers to manage 17,400 voting rooms across the country.
The upcoming elections have seen a significant increase in engagement from the Rwandan diaspora. Approximately 53,000 Rwandans living abroad have registered to vote in the 2024 general election, a substantial rise from the 21,000 diaspora voters who registered for the 2017 elections. This increase underscores the growing political participation of Rwandans overseas.
Phillipe Mpayimana, another presidential hopeful, has announced that he has secured the 600 signatures required to submit his candidature and plans to do so soon. The deadline for candidature submission is May 30, 2024.
Other political parties are also preparing for the elections. The Liberal Party (PL) has submitted its list of parliamentary representatives, joining the growing roster of participants in the democratic process.
As Rwanda gears up for the 2024 general elections, the NEC’s efficient planning and the heightened political engagement from both domestic and diaspora voters highlight the country’s robust electoral framework and commitment to democratic principles.
