Summing up the polls as “credibly administered”, the British minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham, said “these elections represent another important stage in the country’s development.”
“As a friend of Rwanda and a fellow Commonwealth member we welcome the peaceful and credibly administered…,” elections on 9 August, said Bellingham in a statement.
“Rwanda has made huge strides since 1994 and these elections represent another important stage in the country’s development.”
However, like the European Union, London also raised concerns over “incidents in the run up to the election”.
“We are concerned about incidents in the run up to the election involving restrictions on political and media freedoms and the ability of opposition parties to register,” said Bellingham, in reference to troubled FDU-Inkingi and the Green Party.
“We have raised these concerns with the Government of Rwanda,” he added.
Bellingham said his government was awaiting the report and findings of the Commonwealth mission which observed the elections.
The British statement comes after embattled opposition politician Ingabire Victoire called “peaceful resistance” against the president-elect Paul Kagame.
She wants Britain, EU and United States not to recognize the election results in which the three contenders in the poll got about 7% in total.
The Conservative Party – which is in power in London has a major project in Rwanda which has been running before it won office.