Topic summary
1978 Rwandan presidential election
- Dictator of Rwanda
1973–1994
- Government
- 1973 Rwandan coup d'état
- MRND
- Interahamwe
- Hutu Nationalism
- 1978 constitutional referendum
- 1981 parliamentary election
- 1983 parliamentary election
- 1988 parliamentary election
- Arusha Accords
- Presidential elections
- Battles/wars
- Bugesera invasion (disputed)
- Civil War
- Ideology
- Far-right politics
- Hutu supremacism
- Anti-communism
- Social conservatism
- Right-wing authoritarianism
- Totalitarianism
- Military dictatorship
- Anti-Tutsi sentiment
Presidential elections were held in Rwanda on 24 December 1978, a week after the country's new constitution was approved in a referendum. The constitution had made the country a one-party state with the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (MRND) the sole legal party. Its leader, incumbent President Juvénal Habyarimana, who had taken power in the 1973 coup d'état, was the only candidate. The results showed 99% of votes in favour of his candidacy.