President Paul Kagame, Chairman of the RPF Inkotanyi, expressed his gratitude for the trust Rwandans have in him. Despite facing serious problems, he never feels disappointed because of this trust. He spoke on the night of July 15, 2024, after the National Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results of the presidential election held on July 14-15, 2024.
With 78.9% of the votes counted, Kagame received 99.15% of the votes. Dr. Frank Habineza of the DGPR had 0.53%, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana was expected to get 0.32% of the vote. Kagame said the high number of votes shows increasing confidence from the Rwandan people.
“I see this election, the campaign, and the results as a sign of trust. Trust is something you build over time. It’s not easy, but I am thankful for it,” Kagame said. He added that he remains hopeful even in tough times because he trusts that people will work together to solve problems.
Reflecting on his years in leadership and the challenges faced, Kagame stated, “Do you think I’m disappointed by the difficulties? I’m not. It’s the confidence I have in you that we will work things out.”
Kagame noted that the preliminary results often go unnoticed by the international community and are sometimes criticized, but he emphasized that this is a unique aspect of the RPF and Rwandans. He thanked Rwandans, the RPF for its ideas and actions, and the young people for their contributions. He assured that they will continue to adapt and face challenges together.
President Kagame urged everyone to take responsibility for solving the country’s problems instead of blaming others. He acknowledged the efforts made in the elections and thanked the political parties that joined the RPF Inkotanyi, as well as all participants from the campaign to election day.
Provisional votes will be announced on July 20, and the final results for the presidential and parliamentary elections will be released no later than November 27, 2024.
