U.S. Frowns At Rwanda’s Presidential Election

By Victor Ernest

The United States has frowned at the way the Rwanda Presidential Election was conducted on Friday, saying that the poll was characterised by ”irregularities”.

This was made known in a statement issued on Saturday by the U.S. Department of State, Heather Nauert.

Rwanda’s incumbent president, Paul Kagame won a third term in office in the election, garnering about 98 percent of votes cast.

Nauert said in the statement that U.S. is ”disturbed by irregularities observed during voting and reiterate long-standing concerns over the integrity of the vote-tabulation process.

He said, ”we remain concerned by the lack of transparency in determining the eligibility of prospective candidates.

”We hope the new electoral law to be debated in the next session of Parliament will clarify that process well before the 2018 parliamentary elections.”

He said the U.S. has, however, commended the Rwandan media for reporting on complaints of harassment of some opposition candidates and Rwandan citizens during the campaign.

”We likewise commend average citizens, the National Electoral Commission, and government officials for speaking out and addressing those complaints.”

”The United States stands by the people of Rwanda in their efforts to build strong democratic and inclusive institutions in order to ensure long-term stability and a democratic, prosperous future for all.”