Kigali, Rwanda - July 15, 2024

Rwanda's incumbent President Paul Kagame is leading with 99.15 percent of the votes cast in the nation's presidential election on Monday, according to provisional results based on a count of 79 percent of the ballots cast, the Rwanda National Electoral Commission (NEC) said.

Although it is widely predicted that Kagame will retain the presidency, opposition leader Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party told journalists that he is hoping to win 55 percent of the votes.

From 5 o'clock on Monday morning, voters were lining up at polling stations across the country, hoping to be the first to cast their ballots in both presidential and parliamentary elections .

Some were voting for the very first time and their excitement was evident.

Kagame's ruling RPF-Inkotanyi party, which has been in power since 1994, leads a coalition of nine parties, and Kagame has been Rwanda's leader since 2000.

About 9.5 million people registered to vote in the 2024 presidential and legislative elections, up from six million in 2017.

Provisional results for both presidential and parliamentary polls are expected by July 20, with final results to be announced by July 27.

If there are no disputes, Rwanda's next president will be sworn in within a month after the final results are published.

Shotlist:
Kigali, Rwanda - July 14-15, 2024:
1. Various of vote counting in progress;
2. Various of Frank Habineza, leader of Democratic Green Party, getting out of car, voting in polling station;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Frank Habineza, leader of Democratic Green Party:
"I'm hoping to get at least 55 percent of the votes for president and at least 10 times more MPs. We had two MPs last time, so I'm hoping to have at least 20 MPs this time.";
4. Various of voters waiting in line;
5. Mary Kabano, David Kabano, showing electoral ink on fingertips;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mary Kabano, voter:
"I'm so excited to be here, to vote the president. And I'm glad I am with my two kids, who are voting for the very first time.";
7. Various of voters waiting in line, election staff member;
8. SOUNDBITE (English) David Kabano, voter:
"I take it as a big privilege to have a say in our nation's future and where it's going. I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to vote.";
9. Voters waiting outside polling station;
10. Various of voters casting votes, waiting in polling station;
11. Ballot boxes;
12. Various of voters waiting in line.

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