The former guerrilla leader extends his 17 years of rule by securing a huge majority of the vote. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has secured a third term in office with around 98% of votes, partial results have showed. With 80% of votes accounted for, the 59-year-old former guerrilla leader has extended his 17 years in power of the east African nation.
National Electoral Commission spokesman Charles Munyaneza told a news conference Mr Kagame secured 98.66% of the vote. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party - the only permitted critical opposition party - won 0.45% of votes and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana scored 0.72. Full provisional results will come through later on Saturday.
The commission estimates 97% of 6.9 million voters turned out to cast their ballots. Mr Kagame has won international plaudits for presiding over a peaceful and rapid economic recovery since the 1994 genocide. But critics also accuse him of human rights abuses, a muzzling of independent media and suppression of political opposition. Around the country Rwandans gathered to hear the results, with some celebrating an early win for Mr Kagame.
At a gymnasium in the capital loud music blared and traditional dancers took to the floor to entertain several hundred people. "We are celebrating the presidential election," said one young man as he danced. "We are celebrating Paul Kagame!" another yelled out next to him. Mr Kagame has been the de-facto leader of Rwanda since, as a 36-year-old, his rebel army routed extremist Hutu forces. Those forces slaughtered an estimated 800,000 people - mainly minority Tutsis - and seized Kigali in 1994.
He was appointed president by lawmakers in 2000 before being elected in 2003 with 95% of votes and again in 2010 with 93% of votes.
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