Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) has accredited more than 1,000 local and foreign observers for the presidential and parliamentary elections due on July 14-16. As of Thursday, June 11, NEC had accredited 776 observers from Rwanda and 334 from foreign countries. The process of accreditation of election observers will continue until Sunday. ALSO READ: 160 polling stations set up in diaspora Most of the Rwandan observers were deployed by the local civil society organisations. The foreign observers represent various regional and international organisations, including the African Union, European Union, the East African Community (EAC), Commonwealth, International Organisation of the Francophonie, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Some of the observers came from friendly countries, according to NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa. “We appreciate all the organisations and countries that have sent observers,” NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa said on Friday following a meeting with the observer missions in Kigali. “We have had a briefing on our preparation ahead of the elections and explained our election laws and regulations. We also reminded the observers about the code of conduct that will guide them during the elections.” The observers will choose the polling stations across the country which they want to observe, Gasinzigwa said. “Everything has been taken care of and we are ready for the elections,” she said. ALSO READ: Rwandan first-time voters ‘excited’ about 2024 elections Over nine million Rwandans registered to vote in the 2024 elections, two million of them are first-time voters. The campaign period will be closed on Saturday, July 13. There are three candidates for the Presidency: Paul Kagame of the RPF-Inkotanyi, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Philippe Mpayimana, who is an independent. Up to 589 candidates are vying for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. ALSO READ: EAC deploys 55 observers for Rwanda election Rwandans in the diaspora will vote for the President and Members of Parliament on July 14, while polls in the country will open on July 15. On July 16, representatives of special groups (women, youth and people with disabilities) will be elected by the electoral colleges. Polls will open at 7AM and close at 3PM, and the vote counting will begin after that. According to Gasinzigwa, partial results of the presidential election will be announced on Monday night. Provisional results will be announced on July 20, while the final results will be made public on July 27.
