Fallowing the genocide in 1994, the first presidential election took place in 2003 when a new constitution was approved in Rwanda. Paul Kagame won this first election and served a seven-year term that ended in early 2010, Kagame was recently reelected in August 2010
On the surface this election looks to be a fair and democratically run as the Tutsi minority leader won the election with well over 90% of the votes, however in months leading up to the election there was a drastic surge in corruption, foul play and unexplained misfortune for anyone who tried to challenge Kagame. The BBC described the election as… "Marred by violence and intimidation against opposition politicians”.
Kagame’s opponents have stated that leading up to the election more the 30 newspapers have been banned. Causing the voices of the opposition to be drowned out by the power of censorship. Most notably the unsolved beheading of the vice-president of the
Democratic Green Party, Andre’ Kagwa Rwiereka. Furthermore in June 2010 Rawandan General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, also a critic of Kagame, survived and assassination attempt while on a trip to Johannesburg, South Africa. Weeks later journalist Jean-Leonard Rugamge, published evidence that linked Kagame to these events was found murdered in this Rwandan home. Several journalists have also been mysteriously thrown in jail. Of the two other political parties in Rwanda both candidates have been smeared or disqualified from running on technicalities.
Kagame has denied all of these accusations and has been quoted as saying: “The people of Rwanda were free to stand for election, those who wanted to, and to qualify, so I see no problem. Some sections of the media seem to be reading from a different page.” Around the country Kagame is greeted with enthusiasm and is very well like for preaching his message of a unified Rwanda without ethnic politics. Rwanda has also experienced a steady up swing in tourism, and quality of life for the average citizen since Kagame’s first seven-year term.
Source:
“Voting Ends In Rwandan Election” Al Jazeera English. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/20108943239684905.html . Published August 9, 2010, Retvieved on September 6, 2010
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