Former Chief Justice David Maraga is spearheading a formidable team of 14 Election Observation Teams from the East African Community (EAC) to oversee the upcoming General Election in Rwanda.
The election, slated for Monday, July 15, 2024, is a significant event for the Republic of Rwanda and the broader East African region.
On Friday, July 12, the EAC mission was officially flagged off by the Secretary General of the EAC, Veronica Nduva, at the Mission headquarters in Kigali.
Maraga revealed that the observation teams will be deployed across all 30 districts in Rwanda's four provinces and the City of Kigali.
Since their arrival in Kigali on July 8, 2024, the observers have engaged with various electoral stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the election preparations. This included training on regional and international election observation principles, practices, and ethics.
Maraga emphasised that an advance team from the EAC had previously conducted a detailed analysis of Rwanda's electoral readiness. Their findings have informed the strategies for the full mission, ensuring a comprehensive approach to election observation.
The EAC Observer Mission, comprising 55 members from EAC Partner States and the East African Legislative Assembly, is tasked with assessing the preparedness and participation of electoral stakeholders. They will also evaluate the adherence to electoral laws, principles, and practices at international, regional, and national levels.
President Paul Kagame, who has ruled Rwanda for 24 years, is seeking a fourth term in the upcoming election. Kagame's campaign has been extensive, with a national tour that covered over 30 cities and villages, culminating in a massive rally in Kigali.
Despite facing only two opponents, Kagame's primary challenger remains a minor threat, having secured just 1 per cent of the vote in the previous election.
The observers will also examine the compliance with democratic principles as outlined in the EAC Treaty. Their objective recommendations aim to enhance the conduct of future elections.
The observation teams are scheduled to return to Kigali on July 16, 2024. The preliminary findings of the mission will be released in a statement on July 17, 2024, with the mission concluding and departing Rwanda on July 18, 2024.
Maraga noted that the pre-election environment in Rwanda has been generally calm, a testament to the country's political stability and effective electoral management. He expressed gratitude to Rwanda’s political leadership, citizens, and electoral institutions for their role in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere.
A successful election, Maraga stressed, will not only be a triumph for Rwanda but for the entire East African Community.
