الجبهة الوطنية الرواندية

قالب:Copy edit

Rwandan Patriotic Front
Front Patriotique Rwandais
الرئيسPaul Kagame
الأمين العامWellars Gasamagera
المؤسسFred Gisa Rwigyema
تأسسDecember 1987
المقر الرئيسيKigali
الأيديولوجية
الموقف السياسيBig tent
الألوان     Sky blue
Chamber of Deputies
36 / 80
علم الحزب
Flag of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.svg
الموقع
rpfinkotanyi.rw

The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF–Inkotanyi; فرنسية: Front patriotique rwandais, FPR)[1] is the ruling political party in Rwanda.

The RPF was founded in December 1987 by Rwandan Tutsi in exile in Uganda because of the ethnic violence that had occurred during the Rwandan Hutu Revolution in 1959-1962.[2][3] In 1990, the RPF started the Rwandan Civil War in an attempt to overthrow the government, which was dominated by Hutu. Later on, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi occurred that ended on 4 July with the RPF conquest of the entire country.[4][5][6] The RPF have ruled the country since then as a one-party state, and its current leader, Paul Kagame became the president of Rwanda since 2000.[7]

Since 1994, RPF rule has been characterized by political repression,[8][9] relative stability, and economic growth.[10][11] Among other policies implemented by the government are the non-recognition of ethnic identities and a wide-ranging prohibition on what the government calls "genocide ideology", including discussion of ethnic differences.[12][13]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

History

Before RPF

Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with a population of over 14 million people living in a comparatively tiny territory of 26,338 square kilometers.[14] Unlike other African countries, the current state of Rwanda was partly based on the Kingdom of Rwanda, governed by a Tutsi monarchy, that existed before European colonization.[15][16] When the colonialists arrived in Rwanda (Germans 1899–1916 and Belgians 1916–1962), Rwanda lost all political economic and cultural independence.[17] The colonial rulers chose Rwanda's leaders and set laws in a way that suited their interests. The colonial rulers employed the divide and conquer strategy, spreading the idea that Rwandans came from different places, did not enter the nation as a group, lacked equal intelligence, shouldn't work in the same fields, and should not receive the same education, which increased divisions between Tutsi, Hutu, and Batwa. Rwandans battled for their independence at the beginning of the 1950s, along with other African countries. Since Tutsis made up the majority of those who fought for Rwanda's independence, the Belgians started to propagate the idea that Tutsis were outsiders who had originated in Abyssinia, or modern-day Ethiopia.[18][19]

Rwandese Alliance for National Unity

The Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU) was created in December 1979 in Nairobi, Kenya by some young Rwandan Tutsi refugee intellectuals, most of whom had grown up in Uganda. The RANU political organization was established to discuss a possible return to Rwanda.[20] Though primarily a forum for intellectual discussion, it became militant after Milton Obote's election of 1980 resulting in many Tutsi refugees joining Yoweri Museveni in fighting the Ugandan Bush War.[21] Following the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979, Obote denounced Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA) as composed of Banyarwanda. Following this, a failed attempt to force all Rwandan refugees into refugee camps in February 1982 resulted in a massive purge, driving 40,000 refugees back into Rwanda. Rwanda declared that they recognized only 4000 of these as Rwandan nationals, while Uganda declared that they would take back only 1000. The remaining 35,000 were left in a legal limbo along the border region that lasted for years, from where many refugee youths left to join the National Resistance Army.[22][23]

RPF

After the Museveni government was formed in 1986, Fred Rwigema, a Rwandan refugee commander, was appointed Uganda's deputy minister of defense and deputy army commander-in-chief, second only to Museveni in the military chain of command for Uganda.[24] Paul Kagame was appointed acting chief of military intelligence.[25] Rwandan refugees formed a large number of NRA officers because they had joined the rebellion early and thus had accumulated more experience. The contributions of the Rwandans in the Ugandan Bush War were immediately recognized by the new government. Six months after taking power, Museveni reversed the decades-old legal regime and declared that Rwandans who had resided in Uganda would be entitled to citizenship after 10 years.[26] In December 1987, RANU held its seventh congress in Kampala and renamed itself the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF); the new RPF, dominated by Rwandan intellectuals who were in exile from different countries and military officers, was far more strong and ambitious than the original RANU.[27]

Rwandan Civil War

On 1 October 1990, the Rwandan government led by Juvénal Habyarimana with the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND) party which was known to rule with pro-Hutu policies, was invaded by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the wing army force of RPF led by Major-General Fred Gisa Rwigema, the starting of the Rwandan Civil War.[28] The RPA incursion was initially successful, despite the death of Fred Rwigema from a bullet on 2 October.[29][30] Paul Kagame, who had been doing military studies in the United States, returned to take over the RPA. Thereafter the RPA resorted to guerrilla attacks, focusing on the Byumba and Ruhengeri areas, and gained control of much of the north of the country in 1992.[31] Eventually, negotiations between the RPF and the Rwandan government led to the signing of the Arusha Accords in 1993, resulting in RPF personnel and other refugees being allowed to return to the country.[32][33]

1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

On 6 April 1994 President Juvénal Habyarimana's plane was shot down near Kigali International Airport, killing him and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the President of Burundi. Responsibility for the assassination has not been conclusively established; it is thought that either Hutu extremists or the RPF carried it out.[34] The shooting down of the plane served as the catalyst for the Rwandan genocide which began within a few hours. Over approximately 100 days, hundreds of thousands of Tutsi were killed.[35][36] The RPF with its wing army fought the government and took control of the country. The 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda was completely stopped when Kigali was captured by the RPF wing army on 4th July.[37][38]

Post-1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda governance

After the RPF stopped the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda and took control of the country, in 1994, it formed a government of national unity headed by a president, Pasteur Bizimungu. Paul Kagame became Minister of Defense and Vice-President.[39] President Bizimungu served for 6 years and resigned from government in 2000, after forming his political party, he was arrested in 2002.[40] Sentenced to 15 years in prison, he was released with a pardon from President Paul Kagame in 2007.[41] In February 1998 Kagame was elected president of the RPF, replacing Alexis Kanyarengwe, and in March 2000 he became the national president.[42]

Following a constitutional referendum in 2003, Paul Kagame was elected president with 95% of the vote. The RPF formed a coalition with several smaller parties, which received 74% of the vote in the 2003 parliamentary elections, winning 40 of the 53 elected seats in the Chamber of Deputies.[43] The coalition won 42 seats in the 2008 parliamentary elections, and Paul Kagame was re-elected as president in 2010 with 93% of the vote.[44]The 2013 parliamentary elections saw the RPF-led coalition win 41 seats.[45] In 2017, Paul Kagame was re-elected for a third term with 98.8 percent of the vote. He was sworn in for another seven-year term on 18 August 2017.[46]

In the post-genocide era, RPF as a ruling party established Rwanda's national unity and democratic government that continues to challenge itself foremost as a right movement to strive for national unity, democracy, and development.[47] To achieve these since 2000, RPF chairman and president of Rwanda Paul Kagame, has been elected three times to rule Rwanda consecutively. Under his leadership, the Rwandan government has invented and practiced unique national programs in ensuring self-reliance including Community work (Umuganda) and Gacaca courts.[48]

Leadership

Current leaders

Paul Kagame is the current Chairman of the RPF after being re-elected with other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) during the 16th party's national congress that met on 2 April 2023. The elected committee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the party activities and will serve a five-year term.[49][50][51]

National leaders

  • Chairman: Paul Kagame
  • Vice-Chairwoman: Consolee Uwimana
  • Secretary General: Wellars Gasamagera


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General commissioners

  • Tito Rutaremara
  • Jeanne D'Arc Gakuba
  • Abdul Karim Harerimana
  • Jean Nepomuscene Sindikubwabo
  • Nelly Mukazayire
  • Assoumpta Mbarushimana
  • Celestin Kabano
  • Sandrine Uwimbabazi Maziyateke
  • Yves Iradukunda
  • Charles Habonimana
  • Christelle Kwizera
  • Gaspard Twagirayezu
  • Marie Rose Mureshyankwano
  • Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima
  • Juliana Muganza

Ideology

Rwanda campaigning for unity and reconciliation

RPF still holds the belief that there should be a fundamental shift. It firmly felt that rapprochement among Rwandans was a prerequisite for socioeconomic growth, the establishment of national peace, and the restoration of dignity to every Rwandan.[52][53]

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Election Party candidate Votes % Result
2003 Paul Kagame 3,544,777 95.06% Elected YesY
2010 4,638,560 93.08% Elected YesY
2017 6,675,472 98.80% Elected YesY

Chamber of Deputies elections

Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/− Government
2003 Paul Kagame 2,774,661 73.78%
33 / 80
33 Government coalition
2008 3,655,956 78.76%
36 / 80
3 Government coalition
2013 76.22%
37 / 80
1 Government coalition
2018 4,926,366 73.95%
36 / 80
Decrease 1 Government coalition

References

  1. ^ "Rwanda: It's a Landslide for RPF-Inkotanyi". All Africa. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Rwanda - A Chronology (1867-1994) | Sciences Po Mass Violence and Resistance - Research Network". www.sciencespo.fr (in الإنجليزية). 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  3. ^ Reporter, Times (2011-07-01). "Rwanda's struggle for liberation". The New Times (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  4. ^ "RPF-Inkotanyi Was Driven By Ideological Clarity And Visionary Leadership - Gen. Kabarebe". KT PRESS (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  5. ^ DIVINE, ISHIMWE (2023-04-02). "Seven reasons why RPF-Inkotanyi remains on the right path". INGENZI NEWS (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  6. ^ Reporter, Times (2014-07-07). "RPF ideology supersedes individuals". The New Times (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  7. ^ Thomson, Susan (2018). Rwanda: From Genocide to Precarious Peace (in الإنجليزية). Yale University Press. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-300-23591-3.
  8. ^ Stroh, Alexander (2010). "Electoral rules of the authoritarian game: undemocratic effects of proportional representation in Rwanda". Journal of Eastern African Studies. 4 (1): 1–19. doi:10.1080/17531050903550066. S2CID 154910536.
  9. ^ Matfess, Hilary (2015). "Rwanda and Ethiopia: Developmental Authoritarianism and the New Politics of African Strong Men". African Studies Review. 58 (2): 181–204. doi:10.1017/asr.2015.43. S2CID 143013060.
  10. ^ Nyenyezi Bisoka, Aymar; Geens, Hilde (2021), Omeje, Kenneth, ed. (in en), The Price of Progress: Economic Growth, Authoritarianism, and Human Rights in Rwanda, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 253–271, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-49348-6_13, ISBN 978-3-030-49348-6, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49348-6_13, retrieved on 2024-03-13 
  11. ^ "How the West's Favorite Autocrat Engineered Africa's Most Dramatic Turnaround". Bloomberg.com (in الإنجليزية). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  12. ^ "Safer to stay silent: The chilling effect of Rwanda's laws on 'genocide ideology' and 'sectarianism' - Rwanda | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int (in الإنجليزية). 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  13. ^ "Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Approaches to Ethnicity in the Ethiopian and Rwandan Peacebuilding Processes". Journal of Public and International Affairs (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  14. ^ Tallon, F. (1988-04-01). "[Rwanda: population problems, development in question]". Imbonezamuryango = Famille, Santé, Développement (11): 29–33. PMID 12315405.
  15. ^ Rennie, J. K. (1972). "The precolonial kingdom of Rwanda: a reinterpretation". Transafrican Journal of History. 2 (2): 11–54. ISSN 0251-0391. JSTOR 24520214.
  16. ^ King, Elisabeth, ed. (2013), Colonial Schooling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 36–69, doi:10.1017/CBO9781139600217.005, ISBN 978-1-107-03933-9, https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/from-classrooms-to-conflict-in-rwanda/colonial-schooling/8BA8233E352DBB261B0B0E9417863C20, retrieved on 2023-11-15 
  17. ^ "East Africa Living Encyclopedia". www.africa.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  18. ^ https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5217&context=gc_etds
  19. ^ "One . Religion, king, clan and clientship in pre-colonial Rwanda – AMATEKA | HISTORY OF RWANDA" (in الإنجليزية البريطانية). 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  20. ^ Reed, Wm. Cyrus (1996). "Exile, Reform, and the Rise of the Rwandan Patriotic Front". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 34 (3): 479–501. doi:10.1017/S0022278X00055567. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 161382. S2CID 154818798.
  21. ^ "What does RANU stand for?". AcronymAttic (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  22. ^ Kimonyo, Jean-Paul (2014-07-28). "RPF: Political and cultural awakening". The New Times (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  23. ^ Reed, Wm. Cyrus (1995). "The Rwandan Patriotic Front: Politics and Development in Rwanda". Issue: A Journal of Opinion. 23 (2): 48–53. doi:10.2307/1166507. ISSN 0047-1607. JSTOR 1166507.
  24. ^ "Fred Rwigyema, the military genius from two countries". New Vision (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  25. ^ Foyart, Paul (2018-04-01). "Paul Kagame (1957- ) •" (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  26. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Uganda/Rwanda: Whether a Rwandan born in Uganda has citizenship rights; conditions under which individuals whose ancestors are not Ugandan can obtain Ugandan citizenship; whether citizens of Uganda have rights to free university education; whether international students can attend university in Uganda". Refworld (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  27. ^ "Why the RPF succeeded". Monitor (in الإنجليزية). 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  28. ^ Tabaro, Jean de la Croix (2018-02-01). "Rwanda Pays Tribute to Her Heroes". KT PRESS (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  29. ^ "RPF-Inkotanyi Was Driven By Ideological Clarity And Visionary Leadership - Gen. Kabarebe". KT PRESS (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  30. ^ Marcellin, Yanditswe na Gasana. "Menya amateka ya Fred Gisa Rwigema". Kigali Today (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  31. ^ Ngabonziza, Dan; Nshimiyimana, Leonard (2017-07-03). "Frontline Districts and Success of RPF Liberation War". KT PRESS (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  32. ^ "Structural violence and the struggle for state power in Rwanda". ACCORD (in الإنجليزية البريطانية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  33. ^ Melvern, Linda (2020-02-25). Intent to Deceive: Denying the Genocide of the Tutsi (in English). London New York: Verso. ISBN 978-1-78873-328-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  34. ^ Reydams, Luc (2018). "Politics or Pragmatism? The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Burying of the Investigation into the Assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana". Human Rights Quarterly. 40 (4): 989–1013. doi:10.1353/hrq.2018.0052. S2CID 158033062.
  35. ^ "Statistics". Survivors Fund (in الإنجليزية البريطانية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  36. ^ "Rwanda « World Without Genocide - Making It Our Legacy" (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  37. ^ "July 4 is Rwanda Liberation Day". USC Shoah Foundation (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  38. ^ edu-admin (2017-05-25). "Remembering the Rwandan genocide on 4th of July". EDU Africa (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  39. ^ "42. Rwanda (1962-present)". uca.edu (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  40. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Freedom in the World 2012 - Rwanda". Refworld (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  41. ^ Asiimwe, Arthur (April 6, 2007). "Rwanda's ex-president freed from prison". Reuters. Retrieved April 29, 2021. An ethnic Hutu, he [Bizimungu] was appointed president when the ruling Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took power after the 1994 genocide, in which extremists from the Hutu majority butchered 800,000 Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus. President Paul Kagame, whose Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Army ended the hundred days of slaughter, was then vice-president, but in reality had more power than his superior.
  42. ^ Ruhumuliza, Gatete Nyiringabo. "Kagame's Rwanda is still Africa's most inspiring success story". Al Jazeera (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  43. ^ Nations, United. "The Millennium Development Goals Advocacy Group". www.un.org (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  44. ^ "Rwanda President Kagame wins election with 93% of vote". BBC News (in الإنجليزية البريطانية). 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  45. ^ "With elections over, it's time to walk the talk". www.newtimes.co.rw. 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  46. ^ Dahir, Abdi Latif (2017-08-05). "Rwanda has re-elected president Kagame with more than 98% of the vote". Quartz (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  47. ^ "Rwanda's Resilience: the power of forgiveness and unity | United Nations Development Programme". UNDP (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  48. ^ Igihe (2022-06-27). "Ten things to know about Rwandans' self-reliance". Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  49. ^ Iribagiza, Glory (2023-04-11). "Who are the new RPF-Inkotanyi Commissioners?". The New Times (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  50. ^ Kagire, Edmund (2023-04-02). "RPF 35: President Kagame Re-elected RPF Inkotanyi Party Chairman". KT PRESS (in الإنجليزية الأمريكية). Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  51. ^ Reporter, Times (2023-09-01). "Kagame meets new RPF party executive". The New Times (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  52. ^ Larson, Catherine Claire (2009-05-26). As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda (in الإنجليزية). Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-56029-6.[مطلوب مصدر أفضل]
  53. ^ Pells, Kirrily; Pontalti, Kirsten; Williams, Timothy P. (2014-04-03). "Promising developments? Children, youth and post-genocide reconstruction under the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)". Journal of Eastern African Studies (in الإنجليزية). 8 (2): 294–310. doi:10.1080/17531055.2014.892672. ISSN 1753-1055. S2CID 145698264.

Further reading


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

External links

قالب:Rwandan political parties