<< BACK Central and West Africa: Rwanda Background From August to October 2003, Rwanda conducted its first multiparty polls since the 1994 genocide. August Presidential and September/October legislative elections brought to a close Rwanda's transition period, as defined by the Arusha Accords in 1993 and subsequent constitutional and political reforms. President Paul Kagame won the Presidential elections with 95 percent of the vote, and a coalition led by the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) secured a landslide victory in the legislature, capturing approximately 74 percent of seats. A European Union delegation observing the Presidential elections noted flaws in the electoral process, while Rwandan opposition leaders and the international community questioned limitations and obstacles that the government and ruling party placed on political activity in the lead-up to both elections. Women gained approximately 45 percent of total parliamentary seats—a statistic that has received significant attention in the international community and press. Rwandans now face the implementation of the country's transitional justice system, known as gacaca, and continuing tense relations particularly with the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including a December 2004 threat by Rwanda to invade DRC reportedly to combat militiamen within DRC's borders believed to have perpetrated the 1994 genocide. Members of the international community continue to express concern over tight control exercised by the government on opposition and civil society, as demonstrated by a June 2004 parliamentary request that one of the country's leading human rights groups be dissolved. Past Activities From July to November, 2003, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) implemented a program to support Rwanda's transition to a multiparty democracy by facilitating dialogue among key political actors about ways to improve the political process, based on impartial international assessments of strengths and shortcomings of political parties' role in 2003 elections. Assessment Mission From August 3-11, 2003, an NDI delegation visited Rwanda to assess the political environment in the lead up to presidential and legislative elections, with a special focus on examining the role and capacity of Rwandan political parties and organizations, and the challenges facing political parties—including the ruling party and other political groupings seeking to participate in Rwanda's political system—within the context of the new constitution and other recent developments. The assessment mission was designed to complement the election-related activities conducted by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). The delegation met with over 40 Rwandan political party leaders, members of the transitional government, election administrators, civil society activists, journalists, academics, representatives of the international community in Kigali, and several Rwandans residing in Belgium and in the United States. The team held meetings with representatives from all political parties, registered and unregistered, and with all presidential candidates with the exception of President Kagame. The assessment team found that despite the establishment of a multi-party political system following the genocide, the tight political control exercised by the transitional government could impede progress toward democratization. The team issued and widely distributed a report detailing its findings. Post-Election Political Party Roundtable From November 20-21, 2003, NDI hosted a post-election roundtable for approximately 40 key actors involved in Rwanda's election process. The roundtable was designed to help defuse post-election tensions, to facilitate dialogue among political actors, and to help build trust and cooperation through a structured and moderated dialogue. Participants included representatives from all eight legally registered political parties, a large selection of independent candidates, members of government entities, several Members of Parliament, and select members of civil society and independent research organizations. The roundtable provided—for the first time since the national elections—a neutral forum for Rwandan actors of all political backgrounds to address contentious political issues. Contact Information For further information on our programs in Rwanda, please contact: Melissa Lane, Senior Program Assistant Send Email Updated February 2005 << BACK