Inter-ethnic/State Relations: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993
Implementations
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1993
As a way out of ethnic conflict in Rwanda, the Arusha accord sought to eliminate ethnic identity and promote inter-ethnic reconciliations. In this regard, the accord called for the deletion of references to ethnic grouping in official documents, as well as a rejection of political ideology based on ethnic identity. No developments occured this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1994
After the genocide, the national unity government eliminated all ethnic references from official documents. According to a news report, Mr. Kagame, the leader of the victorious rebel movement, said that both the personal identification card and official documents would contain no references to ethnic origins.1
- “Rwanda’s Leaders Vow to Build a Multiparty State for Both Hutu and Tutsi,” The New York Times, September 7, 1994
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1995
The mention of ethnicity was officially removed from identity cards when the new government began to issue cards in 1995.1
- “Rwanda: Procedure for obtaining or replacing a national identification card including a description of the card and information on the ‘attestation d’identité’ signed by a burgomaster,” Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, June 14, 2007.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1996
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1997
It was reported that the Rwandan government continued to eliminate references to ethnic origin from state documents and national identity cards.1“Rwanda Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1997,” U.S. Department of State, 1998, accessed September 14, 2011, http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1997_hrp_report/rwanda.html…
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1998
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1999
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2000
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2001
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2002
No further developments observed.
Postscript: Other reforms related to promoting inter-ethnic relations also took place. In these instances, radical ethnic parties were not invited to join the National Unity Government. The new constitution, which came into force in June 2003, did not only eradicate the ethnic divisions but also rendered propaganda based on ethnic origin punishable by law. The constitution eliminates discrimination based on ethnic identity as well as formation of political organization or party based on ethnic orientation.1
At the same time, some government policies continued to promote ethnic identification. Both the special genocide courts and gacaca courts tried only genocide crimes, and the determination of which crimes were considered genocide was based almost exclusively on ethnic identity. Furthermore, many regime critics have charged that the regime actively discriminates in favor of Tutsi, particularly returned former Tutsi refugees who constitute the core of RPF support. Laws banning ethnic identification make it impossible for people to complain publicly about ethnic discrimination lest they be accused of “divisionism” or supporting “ethnic ideology.”
- “Constitution of Rwanda-2003,” accessed August 20, 2011, http://www.mod.gov.rw/?Constitution-of-the-Republic-of.