Understandably Paul Kagame is not just another leader; he is the architect of present-day Rwanda, similar to the founder of modern Singapore. The former President of the United States, Bill Clinton once called him “one of the greatest leaders of our time” back in 2009 while the former Prime Minister of the UK, Tony Blair called him “a visionary”. Understanding Kagame’s enduring popularity requires a deeper introspection into the country’s socio-political context. Kagame’s government has successfully leveraged the narrative of national unity and progress post-genocide to maintain control. Perhaps, if the numbers are to be believed, this is what many Rwandese had in mind as they entered the ballot booth. The Rwandese post violence experience stands in stark contrast to countries like Zimbabwe, which also experienced a dark history with Gukurahundi but continue to struggle in addressing it.

As many try to come to terms with the Kagame’s consistency in getting 90%+ votes since 2000 one needs to understand that this is the Kagame who managed to lead Rwanda from the trauma of genocide, uniting the country and making significant strides in development. In the aftermath of the genocide of 1994, Rwanda was left with horrific devastation: physical and moral wounds, destroyed property, and a decimated justice system, as judges were targeted for being Tutsi. The education system collapsed as teachers were killed, the health system was in ruins, and the local government was paralyzed. Faced with this dire situation, Kagame implemented home-grown solutions to heal and transform the country. He promoted a culture of community mediation, courts, national leadership, and community work to address the problems. For instance, Rwanda’s community courts managed to solve impunity by 86.4%. He also ensured that the genocide’s memory was preserved to honor loved ones, restore dignity, give survivors a chance to tell their stories, fight denial and genocidal ideology, and educate future generations about the threat of genocide.

Today, 30 years later, Rwanda boasts a restorative community, high economic growth, status as a tourist attraction, education for all, and equal rights for women—all under Kagame’s leadership. This legacy of progress and stability likely informs the love and support many Rwandans have for Kagame.

However, is Paul Kagame that popular? There have been stories in the media about how he seeks to destroy political foes. Michela Wrong in her book argues that Kagame has ruthlessly hunted down and killed political enemies; there is no freedom of speech in Rwanda; elections are a farce; far from being a model for the rest of Africa, the country is an ethnic tinderbox waiting to explode. In the previous polls, the former opposition leader Diane Rwigara was imprisoned together with her mother and sister. She was charged with ‘offenses to state security and forgery,’ Diane Rwigara, was not just another politician. She was a serious contender for power but was barred from contesting the 2017 and 2024 elections.

Furthermore, reflecting on the broader context of global democracy, others, for instance, Murisa highlight the growing concern that democracy is under threat worldwide, characterized by increasing authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms. How do the Rwandan elections measure up to conditions of fairness and transparency? Does the electoral process mask an underlying autocracy? It is important to note that many of today’s dictators are, elected into office and in some instances are very popular for delivering on socio-economic goals. Others have called them ‘benevolent dictators’. The usual measures for democracy include free and fair elections characterised by independent institutions responsible for running elections and adjudicating any conflicts that may arise from the plebiscite. Rwanda is ranked as a ‘Not Free’ country in 2022 on the Freedom Index. According to Freedom House Kagame’s Patriotic Front has also suppressed political dissent through pervasive surveillance, intimidation, torture, and renditions or suspected assassinations of exiled dissidents.   What shall we make of this? True democracy encompasses more than just regular elections; it requires a culture of civility, tolerance, and genuine public participation—elements that are often missing in Rwanda’s tightly controlled political landscape.

In conclusion, while Kagame’s leadership has undeniably brought stability and development to Rwanda, the broader democratic principles of genuine public participation and political pluralism remain critical issues. The challenge for Rwanda, and indeed for many countries worldwide, is to balance effective governance and national unity with the fundamental democratic values of freedom and inclusivity.

Nyasha McBride Mpani is the project leader for the Data for Governance Alliance Project based at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town

Dr. Tendai Murisa is the Executive Director at the SIVIO Institute, based in Harare, Zimbabwe