Kigali, Rwanda - July 15, 2024
So, Rwandan folks are getting ready to vote in a big election that's pretty much going to keep President Paul Kagame in charge for another 30 years. He's been running the show since 1994, which is like forever in politics.
Super Early Birds and Long Queues
Some keen voters in Kigali, the main city, woke up at the crack of dawn, like 5 a.m., to hit the polling stations. Long lines everywhere!
One of them, Jean Claude Nkurunziza, who rides motorbikes for a living, said, "This is my first vote, and I'm all for Kagame. He's one of a kind!"
Lots of Voters and Predictable Outcome
They say nearly 9.5 million Rwandans are signed up to vote out of the whole country's 14 million people. We're supposed to get some early results today.
Let's be real, Kagame's going to win big time. The other guys, Habineza from the Green Party and independent dude Mpayimana, didn't get much love during their campaigns. Last time around, in 2017, Kagame got like 99% of the votes against these same guys.
Kagame's Story and the Two Sides of the Coin
Kagame, who's 66 now, took over Rwanda after a really bad time called the genocide in '94. Some people think he's a boss who gets stuff done, like fixing the economy. Others aren't fans, calling him a bit too tough and controlling.
Changing the Rules and Staying in Power
This guy's one of those leaders who tweaked the rules to stay in charge. Back in 2015, Rwandans voted to let him keep being president until 2034. He says it's because his party and the people want him to, but you know, everyone's got an opinion on that.
Troubles in the Neighborhood and Human Rights Talk
This election's happening when things are a bit tense in the Great Lakes area. There's this group, M23, causing problems in the Congo, and some say Rwanda's helping them out. The U.S. isn't happy about it, but Rwanda's like, "Nah, it's the Congo's military causing the drama."
And let's not forget the human rights stuff. Places like Amnesty International are worried about Rwanda getting a bit too strict with opposition voices. They're talking about scary stuff like harassment, fake charges, and even people going missing. It's all pretty serious, and it's definitely not making it easy for people to speak their minds.
