The Contrasting Election Campaigns in Rwanda

The roads leading to a town in northern Rwanda were adorned with election posters, all promoting the incumbent president, Paul Kagame, who has held the position for decades.

Businesses were forced to close their doors as the president’s convoy passed through the town, with women sweeping the streets in preparation for his arrival at a massive rally held in a stadium decorated with the colors of the ruling party – red, white, and sky-blue. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters, mainly mobilized by party members, welcomed him.

The following day, Paul Kagame’s main opponent, Frank Habineza, made his way to the same town without much fanfare. The streets, now bustling with activity, lacked any signs of his party’s colors – green, yellow, and white. A small group of around a few dozen individuals, mostly his campaign staff, gathered under a tent on the roadside to listen to him speak, while security forces closely monitored the situation.

These contrasting scenes in Byumba, a picturesque town with lush valleys located 25 miles north of the capital city, Kigali, vividly illustrate how President Kagame is utilizing his long-standing power during the ongoing election campaign in Rwanda.

On the upcoming Monday, over nine million voters will participate in a presidential and parliamentary election that many analysts and human rights organizations view as a predetermined outcome. Despite numerous candidates registering for various positions, only Paul Kagame’s image dominates the landscape of this mountainous and densely populated nation of 14 million people.