Polling in the diaspora was conducted at 160 stations in 70 countries, including 44 embassies.
A total of 77,138 voters in the diaspora, comprising 41,243 males and 35,895 females, had registered to vote in this year's general election, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). By press time, many had already turned up to cast their votes.
Overall, 9,071,157 Rwandans, including 4.2 million males and 4,845,417 females, are eligible to vote in this year's general election.
Rwandans living in Saudi Arabia turned out in large numbers at the Embassy of Rwanda in Riyadh to cast their votes. Embassy officials said the Rwandans "were excited to exercise their civic right in voting for leaders of their choice."
By 7 am (Rwandan time), Rwandans in Belgium and Luxembourg mobilized in large numbers to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Twenty-six-year-old Mike Ntasinzira could not hide his excitement to vote for the first time. He said, "We didn't engage in politics a lot back home, but in recent years, I have become closer to the community and got interested in learning more about my country."
In Gothenburg, Sweden, voting was a family affair as children escorted their parents to the polling stations.
"I am a first-time voter and I am super excited. It has been raining, but today I feel blessed and really happy to contribute in choosing the good leaders of our country and our future," said 25-year-old Sonya Isimbi.
Long queues were also witnessed at Rwandan embassies in Kampala, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, and Rabat in Morocco, as citizens came out to exercise their civic rights.
In Germany, voting took place in Berlin and Kaiserslautern, where enthusiastic Rwandans turned out to make their choices count in this year's polls.
Like other Rwandans living in the Central African Republic, members of Rwanda's security forces who are in the country on a mission to restore peace were elated to also participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
The diaspora was the first group to vote in the general election. Locals are scheduled to vote for the President and Members of the house (Chamber of Deputies) on Monday, July 15 2024.
On July 16, 24 female Members of Parliament, two youth representatives, and one representative of people living with disabilities will be elected by special electoral colleges across the country.
Three candidates are vying for the Presidency in Rwanda in this year's polls.
They are independent Candidate Philippe Mpayimana, Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Paul Kagame, the incumbent president and flag bearer of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
