Rwanda’s post genocide: Peace, security, stability and development

1. Mbarara University of Science and Technology’s Seminar series May 23-25, 2013 Rwanda’s post genocide: Peace, security, stability and development

2. Omar Khalfan, Lecturer of Political Science (International Relations) National University of Rwanda Instructor at RDF Senior Command and Staff College Trainer at YPLA, Forum of Political Parties Expert at ACSRT, AU presenter

3. Rwanda’s history after independence in 1962 was characterized by social upheavals, violence and turmoil. Rwanda was destroyed by political exclusion that led to the fleeing of some Rwandans into exile, most if not all were Tutsis. The refugees attempted peaceful channels to return home but were denied by the regime. Rwanda remained in a crisis as peaceful means including negotiations, to end the crisis had failed. The instability of the state led to the planning of the war of liberation in 1980s, this led to the birth of the current RPF. Introduction

4. In 1994 genocide in Rwanda- International Community abandoned Rwandans: more than one million dead, more than two million refugees, more than 300,000 orphans, a collapsed economy and divided society; at that time, Rwanda was almost failed State. • Flight of genocidal forces into DRC assisted by French led Operations Turquoise mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 929 (June 1994). Instability originating from Eastern DR Congo since 1994 destabilizes Rwanda. Intro, cont’d

5. Rwanda’s post genocide is a period that more efforts were needed to re-build the country after mass atrocities and genocide. Rebuilding Rwanda implies putting in place political, social and economic strategies that deal with the consequences of the Genocide against the Tutsis and how the country can move forward in building a strong foundation for lasting peace. Intro, cont’d

6. A small, landlocked, developing country with limited resources, Rwanda has amazed onlookers for overcoming the social, political and economic challenges she has faced. In a short post-genocide period, Rwanda has risen from despair and implemented several social, political and economic measures to address most of the challenges. The country also boasts a strong leadership and political will which have undertaken the measures and encouraged citizens to work together to rebuild a new Rwanda. Intro, Cont’d

7. Security: A subjective state in which an individual or collectivity feels free from threats, anxiety, or danger. • According to Columba Peoples and Nick Vaughan-Williams (2012:181), what is security, or what quality makes something security issue in IR? The answer to what makes something an international security issue can be found in the traditional military understanding of security. In this context security is about survival Definitions

8. Referent object for the security has traditionally been the STATE, and in a more hidden way, the NATION. For a state, survival is about sovereignty, and for a nation it is about identity. Def. Cont’d

9. Security for Whom? Individuals, State, Int’l System Security for which values? Individuals, states, and other social actors have many values. These may include physical safety, economic welfare, autonomy, psychological wellbeing, and so on. Then, How much security? Buzan said, either secure or insecure Concept of security

10. Peace: A political condition that ensures justice and social stability through formal and informal institutions, practices, and norms. Notoriously elusive, peace connotes more than a mere absence of war or hostilities; an absence of conflict is impossible. Def., Cont’d

11. Development: Process of change: the process of changing and becoming larger, stronger, or more impressive, successful, or advanced, or of causing somebody or something to change in this way; Ex. sustained economic development Def., Cont’d

12. According to the statistics provided by the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (2007), 20,039 RDF and 6,423former combatants from various armed groups were demobilized and reintegrated into their communities from 2001 to 2007. • Integration of 15,000 ex-FAR who never committed genocide 1994-96. Security Restoration

13. Security sector reform: 2000, creation of new RNP It merged judicial police (this was in Ministry of Justice) Communal police (under Ministry of Interior) and Gendarmerie which was under Ministry of Defence. Cont’d

14. RDF, 4236 peacekeepers Police: 441 peacekeepers Since it started to send peacekeepers from 2004, RDF has to date, contributed 26,255 military personnel to different UN missions Rwanda is presently ranked 6th biggest troop contributor in peacekeeping operations in the world. Rwanda in Int’l Peace keeping

15. The scale of the crimes committed during the genocide and the delicate situation where criminals and survivors lived together on the same hills obliged the Rwandan government to address these issues. • Approximately125.000 suspects in Rwanda’s prisons • Rwandans had to find new and innovative solutions; this is precisely the reasoning behind setting up the Gacaca jurisdictions courts in 2001. THE RULE OF LAW CONFRONTING THE STATUS QUO

16. According to observers, the Rwandan judiciary needed more than 200 years to bring all the suspects to justice. 1,136,000 cases tried by the Gacaca process. Cont’d

17. According to NURC, 54% of people interviewed in 2007 believed that the testimonies given during the Gacaca trials worsened tensions among families. What mechanisms can Rwanda put in place to manage the post Gacaca challenges and to achieve national reconciliation? This reveals that rule of law is not just about justice. It is also about establishing institutions which abide by the law, follow universally accepted norms, promote the principle of separation of powers and respect fundamental human rights. Hence, the Office of the Ombudsman was created in 2003 to promote rule of law, social justice and the fight against corruption. Citizens are availed an alternative when the legal process is unfair or when other types of injustices occur in society. Cont’d

18. The destruction of social cohesion in Rwanda, characterised by mistrust among the various categories of Rwandans is one of the dramatic consequences of the genocide. How can the survivors of genocide be expected to live with the perpetrators, in essence their tormentors? The specificity of the genocide against the Tutsi lies in the fact that it was perpetrated by Rwandans on their fellow citizens. In order to restore social cohesion, there can be no better solution than creating favourable conditions for peaceful coexistence. RESTORATION OF SOCIAL COHESION

19. Reconstructing post-genocide Rwanda has obliged various stakeholders to work out strategies which contribute to the restoration of relationships and trust. The Arusha Peace Accords inspired the creation of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) in March 1999. Cont’d

20. Genocide was nothing else but a violation of human rights. Therefore, the establishment in 1999 of the National Human Rights Commission was aimed at fighting the culture of violence. Cont’d

21. Concerning social cohesion, there are reconciliation dynamics in place not only as a result of NURC initiatives but also through the inclusive policies aimed at improving the living Standards of ordinary citizens. These include programmes like Girinka, the health insurance scheme known as Mutuelle de Santé, the promotion of cooperatives, ubudehe, Universal Primary Education and others. Cont’d

22. The Girinka program, also known as one cow per poor family. • The main aim of Ubudeheprogramme is poverty reduction especially among poor households in rural areas. • Ubudehe means a home grown collective action where people are brought together in a participatory planning process to identify and prioritize their needs and rank themselves according to poverty levels Cont’d

23. According to a recent study conducted by NURC, 92% of the adult population interviewed among a sample population of 3000 people acknowledge that the relationship between ethnic groups has improved since the end of the genocide. • Ethnic Groups” The Terminology is used to refer to Hutu, Tusti and Twa but, on scientific basis, Hutu, Tusti and Twa in Rwanda are not ethnic groups. Cont’d

24. Art. 9 (3) of Rwandan Constitution Power sharing

25. 1994: IDP, 1,300,000 • 2,000,000 refugees in the neighboring countries • The government of Rwanda then repatriated most of the refugees and resettled the internally displaced. There was also the urgent need for a solution to the 1959 and 1973 refugees who returned from exile in neighbouring countries. Return of refugees

26. Today, Rwanda has no internally displaced citizens and the number of refugees has reduced considerably. According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), Rwanda has 70.000 refugees in different parts of the world, mainly in Southern African countries such as Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa. However, Rwanda also has a small number of economic and political refugees mostly in European countries such as Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands and France, etc. Cont’d

27. Indicators for the good Governance in Rwanda: These indicators include the restoration of security, efforts in implementing the decentralization policy, a commitment to fighting against corruption, better services to the citizens, efforts in power sharing and efficient national reconciliation strategies. Good governance

28. From the economic point of view, Rwanda started from scratch after the Genocide against the Tutsis. The emergency period lasted for five years (1995-2000). After the emergency period, Rwanda developed a broad economic vision covering various priority sectors. The vision, commonly known as Vision 2020. REBUILDING AN ECONOMY BASED DEVELOPMENT

29. covers the following: • Good Governance and a Capable State • -Human Resource Development and a Knowledge-Based Economy •  Private Sector-led Development • Infrastructure Development • High Productivity Value and Market Oriented Agriculture • Regional and International Integration Vision 2020

30.  In addition, cross-cutting domains such as gender equality, environmental protection, science and technology, and information and communication technology also complete the vision. Cont’d

31. According to the World Bank report (2010), Rwanda is the best place for doing business in the East African Community. Cont’d

33. Following the tragic genocide in 1994, which had left the country totally devastated in all aspects, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) was faced with tremendous challenges in post-conflict recovery and peace building needs. A very strong political will of the GoR ensured the continued focus on achieving lasting peace and stability for the country. Due to the complexity of challenges in the post-conflict situation, which included the genocide ideology, the GoR had to come up with a series of new and adapted policies in order to tackle the particularities of the context, with EDUCATION as one of the strategies. INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING

34. Education Sector Performance vs EDPRS Indicators Source: Joint Review of Education Sector (JRES) Report 2011

35. Access to Higher Education Source: MINEDUC Statistics 2012

38. NUR, UG, Pol. Sciences, DS, IP MA DS, MA Peace and Conflict Transformation MA Preventive Genocide, through CCM RPA, MA in Peace, under MINADEF RDF SCSC, MA in Security studies Police College: MA in Peace and conflict Transformation, under RNP Education, cont’d

39. Rwanda has a strong foreign policy which is based on mutual respect, she has diplomatic ties with all neighboring countries, almost African countries and other countries at international level, such as Australia, China, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA, and many others. She is also a member-state in various regional and international organizations viz. United Nations, African Union, CEPGL, EAC, TRIPARTITE PLUS, COMESA. DIPLOMACY, COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

40. The region of Great Lakes is experiencing continuation of conflict, by this research paper(s) and other papers with support from FAFO and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and other sister universities viz. National University of Rwanda, etc. the conflict(s) in Africa, specifically in the region of Great Lakes will be known, and through Rwanda and Uganda experiences as countries that have faced problems related to conflicts and now stable engaging in development, the remedy and solutions would be set up to halt and put to an end these chronically conflicts. The Great Lakes Region may adopt home grown solution(s) and other supporting initiatives including the current ones of ICGLR and African Union. Conclusion

41. Thank you for your attention Cont’d