Rwanda remains dominated by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, which has consolidated power over politics, society and the economy since the end of the genocide. President Paul Kagame secured another five-year term in the July 2024 election with an official vote share of 99.18%. Political participation remains tightly restricted, with minimal space for opposition parties, independent media or civil society, while legal and administrative instruments are used to limit political expression.
Economic growth has rebounded following the COVID-19 downturn, but structural transformation remains limited. High fiscal deficits, rising public debt and a small formal sector constrain development. Most of the population relies on subsistence agriculture, while unemployment and underemployment remain widespread. Despite market-oriented rhetoric, state and party-affiliated actors exert strong control over key sectors of the economy.
Governance is characterized by centralized decision-making and declining international cooperation. Rwanda’s involvement in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has strained relations with key partners, leading to aid suspensions and sanctions. External pressure has increased, while political stability continues to rest on control rather than inclusive consensus-building.
