RWANDA –  The leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), who has led the central African nation since the 1994 genocide, is deemed to be the most likely winner of the general elections, despite criticism from human rights organizations for his “autocratic” rule.

Over nine million Rwandans went to the polls Monday to choose the next president and members of parliament in an election in which incumbent President Paul Kagame is expected to again win handily against two feeble opposition candidates after 30 years of unchallenged rule.

The 66 year-old leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) has been in power since 1994, when Tutsi-led RPF seized power from the Hutu government ending the genocide that killed between 800,000 and one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. He was considered the de facto leader as vice president from 1994 until 2000 when he officially became president.

He has since overwhelmingly won three consecutive elections. In 2015 Rwandans voted a referendum to lift the two-term constitutional limit on presidential terms and to shorten them from seven to five years, paving the way for Kagame to remain in power until 2034. The incumbent president still continues to enjoy a vast popular support and is credited by his supporters for unifying Rwanda after the tragic events of 1994 and for steering development programmes that have allowed the central African nation to enjoy a strong economic growth. (Vactican news)…[+]