Elections

15 September 2008 there will be elections again in Rwanda. Although this is not good new in many African country, we are not worried because of several reasons.
These are parliamental elections, the prensidential elections will be in 2010.
The president (and therefor his party) is still populair even though some say he is not fully democratic.
The army is on the presedents side and has no reason not to be.
The main party linked op with some others limmiting the choise to three. It is already clear the the main party will get the vast mayority of the votes.

The campaign has started, we only noticed a vihicle of the RPF (the main party) yet. Parliament is sent home, so there is no parliament for aprox. 1 month.
There is an elections commitee sponsored by many donors, amongst which the Dutch.
The european commission has sent observers. For some reason the French and Spanish observers didn't get in the country, some technical problem. According to Rwanda complete coincidence that these are the countries which have lists of Rwandans they want to interigate.

Anyway the EU observers are in allready a couple of weeks busy, I do not know what they are actually doing.
On the day itself more observers are needed. For this the National Election Commitee (NEC) asks foreign embassies to send some people. I have the honour (a lot of people didn't want it) to be one of them. This will mean that I have to be available on the day, will get a checklist and go somewhere to see what is going on. I hope it will be some outpost so I get to see some real live.

I will keep you posted on the outcome, or maybe you will see it on the news ;)

Klik here for more info (mainly in French) or just Google for elections 2008 Rwanda.