After 79% of the votes were counted, independent candidate Frank Habineza and Democratic Green Party candidate Philippe Mpayimana received 0.32 percent and 0.53% of the vote, respectively.
However, the electoral commission said that Kagame had received 99.15 percent of the vote, exceeding his previous seven-year winning percentage of 98.79 percent.
In a speech from his party’s headquarters seven hours after the polls closed on Monday, Kagame thanked the Rwandan people for their support in allowing him to serve an additional five years in office.
Even if the score was 100%, the results that have been provided show a very high score; these are not just numbers.
The most crucial thing is that these numbers demonstrate the trust. I’m optimistic that we can work through every issue as a team.
The National Electoral Commission stated in a statement that “for Rwandans living abroad and at home, the electoral process happened in a safe and transparent atmosphere in general,” he continued.
For most Rwandans, Kagame is the only leader they have ever known, with 65% of the population under 30.
Kagame, a 66-year-old leader, is recognized for rebuilding a nation that was deeply affected by the 1994 genocide.
However, he is also accused of leading through a climate of terror within the country and contributing to instability in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over nine million Rwandans, including approximately two million first-time voters, were registered to participate in the presidential race, which was held concurrently with legislative elections for the first time.