For decades, the 66-year-old leader has maintained a firm grip on the landlocked African nation, securing presidential victories in 2003, 2010, and 2017, each time with over 90 percent of the vote.
Kagame’s uncontested candidacy was confirmed during the Rwandan Patriotic Front congress, concluding on Saturday, according to the party.
Opposition Green Party leader Frank Habineza, Kagame’s sole known rival in the upcoming July polls, managed to secure only 0.45 percent of the vote in the 2017 election, ranking third in a contest criticized by rights groups for irregularities and voter intimidation.
Another potential challenger, Victoire Ingabire, leader of the unregistered Dalfa Umurunzi (Development And Liberty For All) movement, is currently ineligible due to a past conviction. A court decision on her eligibility for the presidential race is expected on March 13.
Scheduled for July 15, Rwanda will hold both presidential and parliamentary elections, synchronized after the government’s decision last year. On July 16, electoral colleges and committees will select 24 women MPs, two youth representatives, and a representative for disabled Rwandans.
The campaign period for candidates is set from June 22 to July 12, as outlined in the election calendar. Despite Rwanda’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable nations, rights groups accuse Kagame of governing in an atmosphere of fear that suppresses dissent and free speech.
