Rwandans are preparing to cast their votes in an election that is widely expected to secure President Paul Kagame's extended rule. As the nation's leader for the past three decades, Kagame is running virtually unopposed in the election, with his challengers struggling to gain traction.

The campaign rallies held by President Kagame have drawn large crowds of enthusiastic supporters, projecting an air of inevitability surrounding his victory. In the last election in 2017, Kagame secured nearly 99% of the vote, and observers predict a similar outcome this time, given the absence of any significant opposition to his leadership.

Kagame, 66, holds a powerful grip on Rwandan politics. He first came to power as the leader of the rebel forces that overthrew the government in 1994, effectively ending the genocide that plagued the country. Since then, he has ruled with an iron fist, intolerant of any political dissent.

The election takes place against a backdrop of heightened regional insecurity in Africa's Great Lakes region. Violent clashes between Congolese forces and rebel group M23 are ongoing in a remote area of eastern Congo. U.N. experts have reported that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan forces are supporting M23, a claim Rwanda has strongly denied. Rwanda, meanwhile, accuses Congo's military of recruiting fighters involved in the 1994 genocide.

While Monday's vote is expected to extend Kagame's rule for another five years, human rights groups continue to express concerns over restrictions on freedom of association and the harsh treatment of political opposition. Amnesty International recently highlighted issues such as threats, arbitrary detentions, trumped-up charges, killings, and enforced disappearances.

With a total of 9.5 million registered voters, the election is set to shape the future of Rwanda. As citizens head to the polls, the eyes of the world are on the country's democratic processes and its ability to balance stability and human rights.