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Kigali, Rwanda - Frank Habineza, the opposition leader and presidential candidate of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), has gracefully conceded defeat following the election held on Monday, July 15. Habineza expressed deep gratitude to the voters who supported him.

Incumbent President Paul Kagame secured a landslide victory, receiving 99% of the total votes, which amounted to over seven million ballots. Habineza garnered 38,301 votes, placing him a distant second, followed by Phillipe Mpayimana with 22,753 votes, according to preliminary reports.

"Dear Rwandans, I deeply appreciate all those who voted for me as president and for voting for the Democratic Green Party in the Rwandan Parliament. We will continue to strive for the betterment of our country and participatory democracy," said Habineza in his concession speech. This was his second bid for the presidency, having previously run in 2017, also losing to Kagame.

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has indicated that the final election results will be officially announced no later than July 27, with 21.06% of the ballots yet to be counted.

Public Reaction and Future Prospects

Following his concession, Frank Habineza has received widespread praise from Rwandans for his sportsmanship and commitment to the democratic process. Many have encouraged him to continue contributing his ideas for the country's benefit. His decision not to contest the election process has also been commended, highlighting his respect for the democratic system and his dedication to Rwanda's progress.

Observers have noted that the overwhelming victory of President Kagame was expected, given his long-standing influence and the exclusion of several credible opposition candidates from the electoral process. This exclusion has been a point of contention, with critics arguing that it contributed to the unbalanced outcome of the election.