Rwanda: final stretch in the campaign for the July 15 presidential election

In Rwanda, the campaign for the legislative and presidential elections on Monday July 15 is coming to an end. President Paul Kagame, in power for 24 years, is holding his last major political rally in Kigali this Saturday. Two other candidates are in the race against him: the independent Philippe Mpayimana and the deputy of the Democratic Green Party, Franck Habineza. This Friday, he was campaigning in the Burera district, close to the Ugandan border, in the north of the country.

A painting representing the eagle, a symbol of the Democratic Green Party, is placed at the foot of a modest platform. Microphone in hand, Frank Habineza unfolds his program in front of a hundred curious people.

“We are going to create a reparations fund, which will be used as compensation for people who were wrongfully arrested and then judged innocent. And if you give us a chance, it will be retroactive over two years. »

In the event of victory, Frank Habineza also promises to provide more inputs to farmers or to initiate a reform of land ownership in Rwanda.

Despite the low turnout, the opposition candidate’s campaign went well according to Athanasie Mukeshimana, who heads the women of the Green Party:

“Some activists were prevented from participating in our rally in Ngoma, but otherwise everything went very well. I have confidence in our victory! When you join an opposition party, people sometimes think you are making a mistake. So I was afraid of having problems, but that wasn’t the case. »

But the chances of winning remain slim. In 2017, Frank Habineza obtained less than 0.5% of the vote, compared to more than 98% for President Paul Kagame and Gaspard has not forgotten this.

“No one can replace Paul Kagame, because he fought for this country, liberated it and gave it a vision. All those who come after him are his subordinates. Maybe when he gets old, someone like Frank Habineza can replace him. But as long as he remains strong, Rwanda is counting on him.”

In his speeches, Frank Habineza does not fail to recall that his entry into Parliament in 2018 allowed his party to influence certain political orientations in Rwanda.

Florence Uwamaliya