On July 15, 2024, Rwanda held its presidential and legislative elections, which have drawn sharp criticism from Jambo ASBL, a human rights organization advocating for democracy and the rule of law in Rwanda. The organization issued a statement on July 22, 2024, in Brussels, signed by its president, Norman Ishilmwe Sinamenye. Jambo ASBL expressed deep concern over the election results and the overall context in which they were conducted, declaring them a “non-event.”
According to official results, President Paul Kagame secured 99.18% of the vote, while the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) and its allies achieved overwhelming control of the Parliament. Jambo ASBL argues that these results do not reflect the true aspirations of the Rwandan society for social harmony, freedom, and prosperity. The organization describes these “Stalinist scores” as a consequence of the extremely restricted political space in Rwanda, one of the most limited globally.
The statement highlights that political parties opposing the current regime are either banned or forced into exile. Political leaders who dissent are marginalized, pressured, imprisoned, disappeared, or even assassinated. Civil society and the media face similar repression. A poignant example is the plight of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, who has already served an eight-year prison sentence and is now nearly under house arrest, facing constant harassment from the regime and President Kagame himself.
These elections, according to Jambo ASBL, emphasize President Kagame’s total control over Rwanda’s executive, legislative, judicial, military, and economic institutions. Despite creating an image of Rwanda as a model and miraculous country on the international stage, the organization asserts that this image is based on manipulated statistics, superficial cleanliness, and expensive public relations campaigns.
Contrary to this international perception, Jambo ASBL points out that Rwanda remains one of Africa’s 25 poorest countries, with a fragile economy, immense debt, rising unemployment—exceeding 40% among youth—and some of the continent’s most significant inequalities. Despite official propaganda, access to clean water and electricity remains a severe challenge for rural and impoverished Rwandans, who make up the majority of the population. The quality of education and healthcare is also among the lowest in Africa, with nepotism, ethnic favoritism, and oligarchy characterizing Rwandan society.
Given these conditions, Jambo ASBL concludes that there is currently no democratic and peaceful means of transitioning power in Rwanda. The recent elections only serve to deepen the silent frustrations of the Rwandan people. If these latent tensions explode into an open crisis, President Kagame must be held personally accountable.
Jambo ASBL calls on the international community to recognize the impossibility of democratic political change under the current conditions in Rwanda. The organization emphasizes the need for international action to prevent the situation from reaching a critical point.
The statement underscores the commitment of Jambo ASBL, driven by a new generation of Rwandans who have suffered through the last three decades, to sound this warning and work towards a peaceful, prosperous, and enduring reality for Rwanda.
