Rwandans living abroad demonstrated remarkable civic engagement as they participated in the presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, July 14, preceding the main voting day in Rwanda.
Although the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has yet to release comprehensive statistics, initial reports indicate an overwhelming turnout across multiple countries. An NEC official noted that the diaspora voter numbers were impressively high.
In some cases, the turnout exceeded 100% of registered voters. For example, in Nairobi, Kenya, 4,000 Rwandans were registered to vote, but actual participation surpassed this figure. Similar patterns emerged in West African nations such as Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, where 387 voters turned up out of the expected 375, marking a 103% turnout.
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The NEC facilitated the voting process for Rwandans abroad by setting up 160 polling stations worldwide. These included 17 stations in the United States and multiple locations in Australia, such as Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Different time zones meant that Rwandans in Asia and the Pacific were the first to complete their voting, while those in the Americas wrapped up last.
Back in Rwanda, polling stations will open at 7 a.m. on Monday, July 15, for the general elections, closing at 3 p.m. Vote counting will commence immediately after the polls close.
Three candidates are in the presidential race: incumbent Paul Kagame of the RPF-Inkotanyi, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Additionally, 589 candidates are competing for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
