AU, COMESA deploy observers for Rwanda’s 2024 General Elections

A joint team from the African Union (AU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, to observe the 2024 General Elections.

The mission is led by former President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca, and is deputized by Ruhakana Rugunda, the former Prime Minister of Uganda and a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders.

The Chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and COMESA Secretary General, Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, approved the deployment of the joint short-term observers at the invitation of the Government of Rwanda and the National Electoral Commission of Rwanda.

The observer team comprises 48 members from 17 countries, including ambassadors, officials from election management bodies, members of African civil society organizations, African election experts, gender and media experts, and youth organizations.

They will be deployed across all four provinces, including Kigali, to monitor the election day procedures such as the opening of polls, voting, closing, and the counting process.

A preliminary statement containing initial findings and recommendations on the conduct of the elections will be released on July 17 in Kigali.

Three candidates are vying for Rwanda’s presidency, having launched their campaigns in June ahead of the general elections.

The candidates announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) include Paul Kagame of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), lawmaker Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, the sole independent candidate.

This marks the second time the trio is competing for the presidency, following the 2017 general election won by incumbent President Kagame.

The NEC reports that nine million people have registered for this year’s combined presidential and parliamentary polls.

A total of 589 candidates are contesting for the 80 seats in the Lower House of Parliament.

Eligible voters will head to the polls on July 15.

Over 260 electoral observers have been accredited for this year’s elections, including 61 from international institutions.