Rwandans will vote in elections on Monday, with President PAUL KAGAME widely expected to extend his iron-fisted rule and sweep to victory in a race featuring the same candidates he defeated seven years ago.

Rwanda’s de facto ruler since the end of the 1994 genocide, KAGAME faces rival bids by FRANK HABINEZA, leader of the Democratic Green Party and PHILIPPE MPAYIMANA, who is running as an independent.

The 66-year-old KAGAME is credited with Rwanda’s economic recovery after the genocide, with annual GDP growth averaging 7.2 percent between 2012-2022.

KAGAME has won three elections with more than 93 percent of the vote in 2003, 2010 and 2017, taking home nearly 99 percent in the most recent poll.

A total of 9.01 million Rwandans are registered to vote, with the presidential poll being held at the same time as legislative elections for the first time