Constitutional Reform: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993

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Constitutional Reform: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993

Implementations

Constitutional Reform – 1993

Constitutional reform did not take place in 1993.

Constitutional Reform – 1994

Constitutional reform did not take place in 1994.

Constitutional Reform – 1995

On 5 May 1995, Rwanda adopted a new constitution. The new constitution consisted of: 1. Constitutional items singled out from the constitution of 10 June 1991; 2. The Arusha peace agreement, signed on 4 August 1993; 3. The RPF [Rwandan Patriotic Front] declaration of 17 July 1994 establishing national institutions; 4. The agreement signed on 24th November 1994 between political parties which were not implicated in the previous year’s genocide; In a 57 member national assembly, 55 members voted in favor of the new constitution and two abstained; The Arusha peace accord was part of the new constitution, but the new constitution also included RPF’s declaration of July 1994 and the protocol agreement of November 1994.

Constitutional Reform – 1996

No developments observed this year.

Constitutional Reform – 1997

No developments observed this year.

Constitutional Reform – 1998

No developments observed this year.

Constitutional Reform – 1999

No developments observed this year.

Constitutional Reform – 2000

In 2000, the constitutional drafting commission was established and the constitution drafting process began in Rwanda. The participation of citizens in the process was encouraged and, in this regard, the prime minister called on local leaders to play a role in sensitizing and mobilizing the population towards full participation in the ongoing constitution drafting process.1 Regarding the draft constitution, the commission also consulted prisoners and refugees in Tanzania and South Africa. The draft constitution was defined the system of government and was expected to be finished by July 2003.2

  1. “Constitution Needs Participation of All,” Africa News, July 12, 2001.
  2. “New Constitution for Rwanda by July 2003: Report,” Agence France Presse, September 18, 2001

Constitutional Reform – 2001

No developments observed this year.

Constitutional Reform – 2002

In November 2002, the constitutional commission put forward a draft constitution, according to which the transitional period (and under which the government of national unity had been governed since its establishment on 19 July 1994) was set to end in July of the following year.1

Postscript: A two day cabinet meeting was held in February 2003 to discuss the draft constitution. The president, who was presiding over the discussion, then handed over its findings to the national assembly for the national referendum scheduled for 25 May.2 The draft constitution was adopted by the assembly on 23 April 2003.3 In the referendum of 25 May 2003, the draft constitution was adopted with more than 90% voters supporting the proposed draft.4 Once the Rwandan Supreme Court approved the referendum result, president Kagame signed the new constitution which then came into effect on 4 June 2003.5 The RPF-led government implemented extensive gender-based reforms, including changing inheritance laws and property laws to increase women’s rights. The new constitution encouraged the election of many women to public office, particularly parliament.

  1. “New Constitution Stipulates Transitional Period to End in July 2003,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 13, 2002
  2. “President Opens Two-Day Cabinet Discussions of Draft Constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 28, 2003.
  3. “World Briefing Africa: Rwanda: New Constitution,” New York Times, April 24, 2003.
  4. “Rwanda Voters Approve Draft Constitution,” Voice of America News, May 27, 2003.
  5. “Rwanda’s New Constitution Comes Into Force,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, June 4, 2003