Republican Rally for Democracy in Rwanda
Encyclopedia
The Republican Rally for Democracy in Rwanda , also known as the (Rally for the Return [of Refugees and Democracy in Rwanda]), is an unregistered Rwandan political party. Its stated goal is to establish a democratic and free Rwandan Republic. RDR current president is Mrs Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
.
" (RDR) was formed on April 3, 1995 by a group of Rwandan refugees in Mugunga, Eastern region of the then Zaire
, now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The creation of the RDR was a response to the outcome of Rwandan civil war and the resulting refugee crisis
in the African Great Lakes
Region. By August 1994, over two million Rwandan refugees had fled to neighbouring African countries creating an extreme humanitarian crisis
. Inside Rwanda, the internally displaced population
were at risk of famine. In refugee camps, the presence of former governmental military personnel and Interahamwe
, a Hutu extremist group responsible for the Tutsi genocide undermined the welfare of innocent civilian refugees, making the humanitarian relief effort vastly complex.
In October 1994, a group led by Mr. Francis Nzabahimana, a former civil servant, initiated a meeting in Bukavu
. The meeting would pave way to the historical gathering of April 1995 which was attended not only by representatives of the refugees from various camps in Africa
, but also by the exiled individuals from Europe and North America. For two days of debate, refugees were considering setting up an organization that is able to break the media and diplomatic embargo suffered by refugees. At the end of this first gathering, the refugees published the charter for a peaceful and speedy return of refugees with their prerequisites.
On April 3, 1995 at Mugunga, the RDR was born. The RDR was intended to be a non-partisan organization that would bring together all the refugee
groupings irrespective of political, ethnic, regional or professional background. RDR was an organization that would not compete with the political parties in exile
and its action was placed beyond the traditional scope of activities of political parties. While acknowledging and defending the achievements of the multiparty system, the RDR was aware of the limitations and disadvantages of different political parties in exile such as the stifling of political parties within Rwanda by the RPF
and its government. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4106/is_200809/ai_n31172035/
RDR mission was to solely represent the interest of these civilian refugees and to negotiate their return to their homeland in peace and dignity. The long term goal of the RDR group was to establish true democracy in Rwanda
in order to break the decades-old cycle of violence between Hutu extremists and Tutsi extremists, a cycle in which most victims were innocent civilians on each side.
A year later, as refugees spread beyond the African great lakes region, with no solution to the refugee crisis in sight, the RDR grew into a political party with branches in Europe and North America. The group’s name has since changed to the Republican Rally for Democracy in Rwanda.
However, the RDR received very controversial support from members of the ex-Rwandan Armed Forces in exile as other Rwandan refugees in the same situation. Notwithstanding the Rwandan Armed Forces's history, its motion was intended to be expression of same support that the RDR received from other refugee organs that supported its goals: peaceful return of refugees. Several other organizations, associations or NGOs also sent messages of support and encouragement to the young RDR.
The RDR struggled through difficult terrain. First, the RPF
, which saw in RDR a new political opponent to destroy at any price, was quick to demonize
the movement. Secondarily, some members of the exiled government did not accept to lose the role of torch bearer of refugees. Thirdly, RDR had a mission to give to the International Community
the other side of the story on the tragedy of Rwanda so that refugees could recover their rights.
Even more difficult, RDR struggled to represent refugees when their camps were destroyed and a large number of refugees were forced to return to Rwanda against their will, others fleeing deeper into Congolese forests and beyond as a result of the first
and second
Congo Civil War
s. RDR disassociated itself from armed groups and insisted on peaceful means to represent exclusively refugees, in alliance with other peaceful Rwandan opposition parties in exile.
, would never end without finding an acceptable solution to all conflicts in other countries of the Great Lakes region, and in Rwanda in particular . In an attempt to create a new platform for cooperation between opposition parties and other associations representing interests of the Great Lakes population, RDR organised a Forum on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region with the Burundian, Congolese and Rwandan diasporas in Amsterdam
between 26 and 28 November 2004.
In April 2006, RDR and other parties in and outside the UFDR coalition (FRD, ADR, AJIIR and RDR) initiated the creation of a United Democratic Forces (FDU). RDR leader, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
, was elected President of the political platform. FDU has a goal to install the rule of law in Rwanda, underpinned by the respect of democratic values enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights and other international instruments relating to democracy and good governance
The RDR party platform, written on August 13, 1998, outlines the beliefs and goals of the party. This document argues that by struggling for the establishment of a rule of law, justice, democracy, republican values and truth on the Rwandan tragedy, the Rwandese Republic will become more prosperous and peaceful and the goals of true reconciliation and sustainable development and peace will be realized.
The party also argues that Rwanda must respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the African Charter for Human and Peoples’ Rights and has officially condemned genocide, crimes, and violations of human rights against the Tutsi
, Hutu
, and Twa
.
The party supports regional integration; restored international diplomacy; major economic and social development, including the rapid development of the private sector and civil society, education, and basic healthcare; separation of powers within the government; and power for all people, in all ethnic groups, of Rwanda.
The motto of the RDR is “A reconciled people in a rule of law.” Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
is the current president of the RDR.
, author Philip Gourevitch
argues that the RDR, founded in the refugee camps of exiled Hutu
s in Zaire
after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
, is a shadow organization effectively run by former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) commanders and génocidaires. He wrongly criticized Western aid workers who regarded the RDR as a moderate and legitimate organization as naive and ill-informed. Africanist René Lemarchand
criticizes the book for its lack of scholarly credentials
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is a the Chairperson of the Unified Democratic Forces ; a coalition of Rwandan opposition parties with a large base of active members in Rwanda, Europe, United States of America and in Canada. She was a party candidate for Rwanda's August 2010 elections, but was...
.
History
The "Rally for the Return of Refugee and Democracy in RwandaRwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
" (RDR) was formed on April 3, 1995 by a group of Rwandan refugees in Mugunga, Eastern region of the then Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The creation of the RDR was a response to the outcome of Rwandan civil war and the resulting refugee crisis
Great Lakes refugee crisis
The Great Lakes refugee crisis is the common name for the situation beginning with the exodus in April 1994 of over two million Rwandans to neighboring countries of the Great Lakes region of Africa in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide...
in the African Great Lakes
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
Region. By August 1994, over two million Rwandan refugees had fled to neighbouring African countries creating an extreme humanitarian crisis
Humanitarian crisis
A humanitarian crisis is an event or series of events which represents a critical threat to the health, safety, security or wellbeing of a community or other large group of people, usually over a wide area...
. Inside Rwanda, the internally displaced population
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
were at risk of famine. In refugee camps, the presence of former governmental military personnel and Interahamwe
Interahamwe
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization. The militia enjoyed the backing of the Hutu-led government leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Since the genocide, they have been forced out of Rwanda, and have sought asylum in Congo...
, a Hutu extremist group responsible for the Tutsi genocide undermined the welfare of innocent civilian refugees, making the humanitarian relief effort vastly complex.
In October 1994, a group led by Mr. Francis Nzabahimana, a former civil servant, initiated a meeting in Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
. The meeting would pave way to the historical gathering of April 1995 which was attended not only by representatives of the refugees from various camps in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, but also by the exiled individuals from Europe and North America. For two days of debate, refugees were considering setting up an organization that is able to break the media and diplomatic embargo suffered by refugees. At the end of this first gathering, the refugees published the charter for a peaceful and speedy return of refugees with their prerequisites.
On April 3, 1995 at Mugunga, the RDR was born. The RDR was intended to be a non-partisan organization that would bring together all the refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
groupings irrespective of political, ethnic, regional or professional background. RDR was an organization that would not compete with the political parties in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
and its action was placed beyond the traditional scope of activities of political parties. While acknowledging and defending the achievements of the multiparty system, the RDR was aware of the limitations and disadvantages of different political parties in exile such as the stifling of political parties within Rwanda by the RPF
Rwandan Patriotic Front
The Rwandan Patriotic Front abbreviated as RPF is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. It governs in a coalition with other parties...
and its government. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4106/is_200809/ai_n31172035/
RDR mission was to solely represent the interest of these civilian refugees and to negotiate their return to their homeland in peace and dignity. The long term goal of the RDR group was to establish true democracy in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
in order to break the decades-old cycle of violence between Hutu extremists and Tutsi extremists, a cycle in which most victims were innocent civilians on each side.
A year later, as refugees spread beyond the African great lakes region, with no solution to the refugee crisis in sight, the RDR grew into a political party with branches in Europe and North America. The group’s name has since changed to the Republican Rally for Democracy in Rwanda.
RDR Struggle
RDR strived to establish itself as the refugees’ representative movement to negotiate for their peaceful return. The RDR group was often overshadowed by the existence of the exiled government and Hutu militants who wanted to control refugee camps and access to resources for their military activities. RDR leaders were also faced with the refusal of the de facto Rwandan government to negotiate. The new RPF-led government refused to recognise RDR as legitimate organisation with no association with military movements that were active in camps.However, the RDR received very controversial support from members of the ex-Rwandan Armed Forces in exile as other Rwandan refugees in the same situation. Notwithstanding the Rwandan Armed Forces's history, its motion was intended to be expression of same support that the RDR received from other refugee organs that supported its goals: peaceful return of refugees. Several other organizations, associations or NGOs also sent messages of support and encouragement to the young RDR.
The RDR struggled through difficult terrain. First, the RPF
Rwandan Patriotic Front
The Rwandan Patriotic Front abbreviated as RPF is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. It governs in a coalition with other parties...
, which saw in RDR a new political opponent to destroy at any price, was quick to demonize
Demonization
Demonization is the reinterpretation of polytheistic deities as evil, lying demons by other religions, generally monotheistic and henotheistic ones...
the movement. Secondarily, some members of the exiled government did not accept to lose the role of torch bearer of refugees. Thirdly, RDR had a mission to give to the International Community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
the other side of the story on the tragedy of Rwanda so that refugees could recover their rights.
Even more difficult, RDR struggled to represent refugees when their camps were destroyed and a large number of refugees were forced to return to Rwanda against their will, others fleeing deeper into Congolese forests and beyond as a result of the first
First Congo War
The First Congo War was a revolution in Zaire that replaced President Mobutu Sésé Seko, a decades-long dictator, with rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Destabilization in eastern Zaire that resulted from the Rwandan genocide was the final factor that caused numerous internal and external actors...
and second
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
Congo Civil War
Congo Civil War
Congo Civil War may refer to:* In the Kingdom of Kongo:**Kongo Civil War * In the Republic of the Congo :**Republic of the Congo Civil War...
s. RDR disassociated itself from armed groups and insisted on peaceful means to represent exclusively refugees, in alliance with other peaceful Rwandan opposition parties in exile.
RDR Alliances
In September 1998, RDR formed a coalition called The Union of Rwandese Democratic Forces (UFDR) with the Democratic Forces for Resistance (FRD) and the Initiative Group for Reconciliation (GID). UFDR remained convinced that any lasting solution to the war in the DRC, which very unfortunately stems from the Rwandan civil warRwandan Civil War
The Rwandan Civil War was a conflict within the Central African nation of Rwanda between the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front...
, would never end without finding an acceptable solution to all conflicts in other countries of the Great Lakes region, and in Rwanda in particular . In an attempt to create a new platform for cooperation between opposition parties and other associations representing interests of the Great Lakes population, RDR organised a Forum on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region with the Burundian, Congolese and Rwandan diasporas in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
between 26 and 28 November 2004.
In April 2006, RDR and other parties in and outside the UFDR coalition (FRD, ADR, AJIIR and RDR) initiated the creation of a United Democratic Forces (FDU). RDR leader, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is a the Chairperson of the Unified Democratic Forces ; a coalition of Rwandan opposition parties with a large base of active members in Rwanda, Europe, United States of America and in Canada. She was a party candidate for Rwanda's August 2010 elections, but was...
, was elected President of the political platform. FDU has a goal to install the rule of law in Rwanda, underpinned by the respect of democratic values enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights and other international instruments relating to democracy and good governance
The RDR party platform, written on August 13, 1998, outlines the beliefs and goals of the party. This document argues that by struggling for the establishment of a rule of law, justice, democracy, republican values and truth on the Rwandan tragedy, the Rwandese Republic will become more prosperous and peaceful and the goals of true reconciliation and sustainable development and peace will be realized.
The party also argues that Rwanda must respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
and the African Charter for Human and Peoples’ Rights and has officially condemned genocide, crimes, and violations of human rights against the Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
, Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
, and Twa
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
.
The party supports regional integration; restored international diplomacy; major economic and social development, including the rapid development of the private sector and civil society, education, and basic healthcare; separation of powers within the government; and power for all people, in all ethnic groups, of Rwanda.
The motto of the RDR is “A reconciled people in a rule of law.” Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is a the Chairperson of the Unified Democratic Forces ; a coalition of Rwandan opposition parties with a large base of active members in Rwanda, Europe, United States of America and in Canada. She was a party candidate for Rwanda's August 2010 elections, but was...
is the current president of the RDR.
Criticism
RDR history is wrongly confused with that of other movements that stream from Rwandan refugee camps such as ALIR/PALIR and former Rwandan armed forces. In the book We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our FamiliesWe Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda is a 1998 non-fiction book about the genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda in 1994, written by The New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch....
, author Philip Gourevitch
Philip Gourevitch
Philip Gourevitch , an American author and journalist, is a longtime staff writer for The New Yorker and the former editor of The Paris Review. His most recent book is The Ballad of Abu Ghraib , an account of Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison under the American occupation...
argues that the RDR, founded in the refugee camps of exiled Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
s in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
, is a shadow organization effectively run by former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) commanders and génocidaires. He wrongly criticized Western aid workers who regarded the RDR as a moderate and legitimate organization as naive and ill-informed. Africanist René Lemarchand
René Lemarchand
René Lemarchand is a French political scientist who is known for his research on ethnic conflict and genocide in Rwanda, Burundi and Darfur. Publishing in both English and French, he is particularly known for his work on the concept of clientism. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of...
criticizes the book for its lack of scholarly credentials