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A makeshift polling station for Rwanda's presidential elections in the capital Kigali.

Commonwealth Observers issue Rwanda statement

10 August 2010

There are positive developments but there are also areas of concern - Observer Group chairman says

The Commonwealth Observer Group to Rwanda's presidential elections issued an interim statement on Tuesday 10 August 2010, saying they had seen a peaceful election campaign and a well-managed process by the National Electoral Commission.

Issuing the statement, Group chairman Dr Salim Ahmed Salim said that while Rwanda seeks to take forward its democratisation process, there were also concerns regarding the pre-election period, including limitations on political participation.

Dr Salim served for 12 years as Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Secretary-General and is also a former Prime Minister of Tanzania.

For full statement, click here.

For media enquiries, please contact Manoah Esipisu at +250 782 535 620 and m.esipisu@commonwealth.int

1. Aug 13 2010 1:27PM, Nkunzurwanda wrote:

2. Voters used their fingerprint for the goverment to punish those who would not vote for Kagame if he lost. 3. If I have your fingerprint then the vote was not secret. 3. Other three candidate were two bestmen of Kagame and one flower girl! Do you call them Kagame's challenger while you know yourself they endorsed Kagame during thier own campain?

2. Aug 13 2010 1:25PM, Nkunzurwanda wrote:

Dr. Salim, with due to all respect. Your report it is not fair nor credible. 1. Rwandans were forced to join the RPF rally you did not say any thing about that.

3. Aug 13 2010 1:07PM, jony jess wrote:

how can you say elections were free while 30 media outlets were suspended 6 days before the elections?? if you really care about Rwandans and not just about Kagame, I hope you will produce a fair and independent final report, Sir!!!

4. Aug 13 2010 1:06PM, Jony Jess wrote:

How can you say the election was FREE when all real opposition parties were banned from participating! how can you say elections were free while there was no critical voices? of course Kagame and his allied (so called opposition who never criticised him a single time) enjoyed freedom of movement and enjoyed publicity in public media!