Our organization, the National Democratic Congress (CND-NDC), coalition of the Rally for Unity and Democracy (RUD-Urunana) and the Rassemblement du Peuple Rwandais (RPR - Inkeragutabara) has been following closely the latest polls meant to pick the next President as well as the future members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Rwanda. The process that was witnessed by Rwandans, inside and outside the country, as well as the International Community is nothing else but a SHAM election.
Press Release PP No. 01/July/24
Congrès National pour la Démocratie - National Democratic Congress (CND - NDC)
Rwanda 2024 Election: More than 99% of Votes - Sham Process - Null and Void.
Our organization, the National Democratic Congress (CND-NDC), coalition of the Rally for Unity and Democracy (RUD-Urunana) and the Rassemblement du Peuple Rwandais (RPR - Inkeragutabara) has been following closely the latest polls meant to pick the next President as well as the future members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Rwanda.
The process that was witnessed by Rwandans, inside and outside the country, as well as the International Community is nothing else but a SHAM election. Indeed, it can neither be qualified as FREE nor as FAIR the way it is meant to be in countries guided by the rule of law and democratic principles.
In fact, this so called "election" was nothing else than the showing off by Paul Kagame and his cronies of how high they could jump to make sure that the electors will not pick any one else than their candidates.
These elections were marred with a lot of irregulities. Eye witnesses in various regions reported that Paul Kagame's administration forced electors to make financial contribution to the ruling party and to attend the RPF Presidential Candidate campaign rallies.
Our Organization has obtained information from reliable sources showing how the polls were rigged. For example, the Kigali's regime mounted a sophisticated operation in which it lured non-Rwandans in the neighboring countries to vote for its candidate. At one location, Rwanda operatives were scrolling the streets of the main cities inviting people who looked like beggars/homeless to follow them to the local Diaspora polling stations. Once there, these invites were provided with a Rwandan ID card, given a polling list, and asked to checkmark for the candidate that they were instructed to vote for. Once done, they had to surrender the ID cards that they were given and in exchange they were offered an equivalent of US $1 to $2 in local currency.
These elections were neither fair nor free, to say the least. There is no point of mentioning several individuals who were planning to run for the Presidential office and were dismissed by the electoral commission. The ones who were allowed to run do not appear to have the caliber to challenge the RPF incumbent.
Based on what our Organisation has learned from the 99%+ elections, it is very clear to the Rwandan people that there is nothing to expect from the Paul Kagame’s and his cronies’ oligarchic regime. The outcome has confirmed the dire situation the Rwandan society is in, in terms of being guided by the rules of law and the democratic principles.
Our Organization calls upon all Rwandan citizens to stand up and denounce this masquerade of so called "elections". It is time that all Rwandans irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds and the International Community convey to Kigali's regime a clear and a strong message calling for the establishment of political institutions without delay that are genuinely representative of the Rwandan Society.
July 16 2024
Dr. Augustin Dukuze
Spokesperson, National Democratic Congress
CND-NDC
Congrès National pour la Démocratie - National Democratic Congress
Email:
