On July 14, Rwandans living in diaspora voted in the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, a day before Rwandans in the country went to national polls on July 15. The diaspora voting was characterised by a huge turn up at Rwandan embassies and missions abroad as excited voters showed up to exercise their democratic right. ALSO READ: High voter turnout as Diaspora polls close This election by far has seen the full integration of the diaspora, with social media platforms becoming a bridge connecting voters at home and abroad, with campaign live streams, particularly those of the Rwanda Patriotic Front watched by hundreds of thousands. For many Rwandans living abroad, this election meant much more than just an election, with many living in countries which ‘offer lectures’ to African countries. As such, many members of the Rwandan diaspora made it a point to travel back to Rwanda to vote. It means working and saving for a ticket and perhaps more money to spend, considering that many came even before the polling date to participate in the campaigns, escorting the then RPF coalition presidential candidate in different parts of the country. It is not the first time, some came in 2017 and 2010 elections but it is in the 2024 elections that they wanted to do it, to show their full support to President Paul Kagame and the political organisation he leads as well as the vision of the country. Annie Nyiramongi, who lives in Belgium and belongs to ‘Abadahigwa ba Diaspora group’, whose members organised to come to Rwanda to vote in 2017 and again in 2024. The group was founded by Pascal Kanyandekwe but he passed away in April this year. “We came here to campaign and vote for our candidate, President Kagame, who is now the President-elect and to show him our support. We came as a big group, many are now going back after finishing what brought them,” says Nyiramongi. Expressing love and appreciation “We have many reasons to do this. President-elect Kagame, commanded the RPF/A forces,who stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi when the whole world was watching and he united us as one,” “We came to express our love to him for transforming the country and developing us as Rwandans -all Rwandans without any discrimination. We have many things to thank him for,” said Nyiramongi, who criss-crossed the country attending all RPF campaign rallies. Nyiramongi says that a look at Rwanda’s journey over the past 30 years, comparing them to the 30 years before RPF came to power, it becomes easy to make a decision who to support, and for her and others, it goes beyond just supporting from where they are. The 60-year-old says she has been coming since 2010 and she would be happy to return again in the next election. “We want to prove to those people who say that Rwandans are forced to attend rallies or vote that whatever they say is not true. We came here on our own, joined Rwandans on this journey, we saw how happy citizens were during campaigns,” “The results reflect the will of the people or simply how people feel about their leader. We love him and that shows in the results. Other candidates had the right to go around the country, they campaigned and accepted the results,” Nyiramongi says. Nyiramongi says that it is obvious that President-elect Kagame is popular in and outside the country, even those who criticize him or his landslide win know it but they are in denial. Her thoughts are shared by Solange Umurungi Demarque, also a member of 'Abadahigwa ba Diaspora', who paid tribute to the Late Kanyandekwe for often mobilising the Rwanda diaspora but unfortunately passed away before this year’s elections. Having travelled to vote in 2017, Umurungi says they simply renewed their will and commitment to come to Rwanda again to support the RPF Chairman and flagbearer. It is something they planned for a while. ALSO READ: Mpayimana pledges to boost patriotism in Rwandan diaspora “We started preparations to be part of this campaign more than a year ago. Those who made it were from different countries such as Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Canada, Senegal and Austria,” explains Umurungi. “We came specifically for the campaign and the elections here in Rwanda because we wanted to express our gratitude to President Kagame for all the incredible work he does for all Rwandan even us who live abroad,” she adds. Umurungi, 45, and a mother of two, says they prepared early, paid for the tickets and booked accommodation and transport well ahead of time to be able to escort President Kagame to all campaign sites. “This meant a lot for us because we know that we have a role to play in rebuilding our country. We support the vision of President Paul Kagame. This is why we left our families, work and all our activities for him. It is the least we can do for him,” observes Umurungi. “We are very glad with the results because they are a reflection of the bond between President Kagame and all Rwandans. We are more than ready to give our President hands in rebuilding our country,” she emphasizes. Apart from Abadahigwa, there are many other Rwandans, including those studying abroad, who made it a point to travel back home, even when they could have voted from wherever they live. One of them is Douglas King Nyakana, 23, who lives in Edmonton, Canada and is pursuing his studies at the University of Alberta. For Nyakana, there was no other way than voting from home. “Voting from home in Rwanda was a significant and emotional experience for me. Although I live abroad, I made sure to travel back to Rwanda specifically to cast my vote,” says Nyakana, who also used the period to connect with his friends and family. “This decision was driven by a deep sense of duty and a desire to participate actively in shaping the future of our country. For me, voting is more than just a civic duty; it’s an expression of my commitment to Rwanda’s development and a way to honour the sacrifices made by those who came before us,” he told The New Times. Nyakana says the act of voting from Rwanda allowed him to reconnect with his roots and reaffirm his identity as a Rwandan. “It was important because it gave me the opportunity to contribute to the democratic process and ensure that my voice was heard, despite being part of the diaspora,” “Regarding the election results, I felt that they reflected my will and the collective aspirations of many Rwandans. It was reassuring to see that the democratic process was upheld, and the outcome resonated with the hopes and dreams we hold for our country’s future,” Nyakana adds. Putting everything on hold Similarly, Fabrice Mutsindashyaka, who is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering with pilot studies in Bristol, England, voting back home meant even negotiating with his university to do a pending paper online. “I had registered to vote in the UK because I had one course work which collided with the campaigns but I asked the university if I can do the presentation online and they agreed,” says Mutsindashyaka. “So, I had to travel back home to Kigali so that I could attend the campaigns. I only missed like the first three or four rallies but I attended the rest. The campaigns themselves were exciting,” adds the 24-year-old. “I enjoyed the rallies as it was my first time to attend campaigns. For the elections I was also honoured to be able to vote for the future of my country, more than that, the results that didn’t surprise me as someone who attended the RPF campaign rallies,” he said. Dalira Uwonkunda, who lives in Milan, Italy but works between Europe and Africa, is one of the many Rwandans who lives abroad and made it a point to vote from home. “I am one of the lucky Rwandan citizens who was able to participate in the election campaign and then vote during the significant moment of the elections in Rwanda on July 15, 2024,” Uwonkunda says. “If you are passionate about change and beauty, you can't help but feel an overwhelming desire to be part of this event, to be there and experience the deep love that Rwandans have for their country,” she adds. Uwonkunda says that democratically choosing their leaders, the President, and members of the Chamber of Deputies, is not just a right or a duty but rather an act of love. “It is an act of love for our country, for those who were there and are no longer, who allowed Rwanda's liberation, for those who continue to keep up the good work for the good of this country, and for those who will come,” she emphasizes. Uwonkunda says that she is often amazed by her Italian friends who still ask whether what they see coming out of Rwanda, particularly during elections, is true, perhaps because images can't convey the full idea. However, some of her Italian friends who have been able to visit and get to know Rwanda no longer ask those questions anymore because they have seen with their own eyes. “They easily understand the bond that exists between Rwanda and the Rwandans, which is not something to be taken for granted. Being home meant a lot, a feeling that photos or videos cannot express,” Uwonkunda points out. “Being there meant being part of Rwanda for Rwandans, the Rwanda with its citizens who want the best for this country, and the Rwanda that continues to learn from its history for the good of this wonderful country,” she reiterates. To be able to democratically cast her vote in Rwanda, in Gasabo District, in Rwanda, her own country, is a priceless feeling Uwonkunda can’t put in words. Going above and beyond For many of those who travelled back home to campaign and vote, it goes above and beyond just voting. Where they live, they represent Rwanda and advance Rwandan ideals. They are patriots in the real sense of it. Constantin Gashyirahamwe Vidal, a Rwandan, who lives in Austria, Europe but also came back home to participate in the elections, says beyond voting, they aspire to make their contribution to the country’s development in one way or another. “We, in the diaspora, we voted because it is our right. We voted without constraint but personally, I love our President Paul Kagame. I specifically came from Austria to Rwanda to vote for him,” says Gashyirahamwe. Beyond fulfilling his civic duty and right, Gashyirahamwe undertakes different initiatives to support the people of Cyahinda, Nyaruguru district, where he was born, as part of his small contribution to the vision of the country. “It is important to show our support to President Kagame, who according to me is a father of the nation. It is because of Paul Kagame that Rwanda is excelling economically, we have security, freedom, democracy and development,” says Gashyirahamwe, who accompanied him on the campaign trail. “Being here in Rwanda during the electoral campaigns was special for me. To be with 500,000 supporters in one place exuded a wonderful feeling,” he says, adding that as someone who lives abroad and knows the value of what Rwanda has built, a win of 100 percent for Kagame would be more meaningful. “I am more than happy. I love our president Paul Kagame, I love Rwanda and Rwandans and I am proud to be Rwandan,” he said, adding that coming back home to vote for him is the least he could do, to repay him. Gashyirahamwe, who holds a doctorate in Culture social anthropology and is a lecturer at the University of Vienna in Austria, says that having a country, which he can proudly call his own, also requires him to do much more. Every year he mobilises his friends in Austria and returns to Rwanda to do something to contribute to the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people. Ahead of the polls, they were able to pay Mutuelle de Sante fees worth Rwf2.46 million for 824 people in Cyahinda. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, he raised Rwf2.9 million which paid health insurance for 995 people in vulnerable households in Cyahinda. “You don’t need to be in Rwanda to work for your country. You can go above and beyond to make a difference from wherever you are,” says Gashyirahamwe, who is also Vice chairman RPF Inkotanyi in Austria.
