Rwandans start voting in presidential election, incumbent expected to handily win

Rwandans vote in presidential election

KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwandans are choosing a new leader in the central African republic’s second presidential vote since the 1994 genocide.

Incumbent candidate Paul Kagame is widely expected to win Monday’s vote as his economic and social development record has earned him many supporters in this landlocked country.

Voters began heading to polling stations well before they officially opened at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) Monday.

Human rights groups have accused Kagame’s government of cracking down on any opposition before the vote, while the government-appointed media council has clamped down on independent newspapers publishing dissenting views.

If elected, Kagame will earn another seven-year term.