Citizenship Reform – 2002
2002
Parliament included dual citizenship provision in the draft constitution. “A first draft constitution was published in November 2002, followed by new versions in December 2002 and February 2003.”1.
The new constitution was approved by referendum on 26 May 2003. Article 7 of the 2003 constitution provided that:
Every person has a right to nationality. Dual nationality is permitted. No person may be deprived of Rwandan nationality of origin. No person shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her nationality or of the right to change nationality. Rwandans or their descendants who were deprived of their nationality between 1st November 1959 and 31 December 1994 by reason of acquisition of foreign nationalities automatically reacquire Rwandan nationality if they return to settle in Rwanda. All persons originating from Rwanda and their descendants shall, upon their request, be entitled to Rwandan nationality. The conditions of acquisition, retention, enjoyment and deprivation of Rwandan nationality are determined by an organic law.