STATEMENT OF THE RWANDA NATIONAL CONGRESS (RNC) ON RWANDA’S CONSTITUTIONAL

STATEMENT OF THE RWANDA NATIONAL CONGRESS (RNC) ON RWANDA’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

The Political Bureau of the Rwanda National Congress met on 20th December, 2015, to review its achievements and challenges as it celebrates its fifth anniversary since its founding on 12th December, 2010.

Notably, the RNC Political Bureau meeting takes place at a time when Rwanda has just concluded a sham constitutional referendum (announced just one week in advance) that paves the way for President Paul Kagame to serve as President for life. President Paul Kagame has been de facto President of Rwanda since July 1994.

During his 21 year rule, President Kagame has turned the state of Rwanda into a personal fiefdom. Rwanda has the trappings, but none of the substance, of a democratic government. Rwanda’s president enjoys unbridled power. The president rules with the assistance of a small clique of military officers and a few civilians connected, often, by family relations and business links. The same group controls the judiciary and the economy of the country. President Kagame, through his control of the enterprises that enjoy a monopoly of business with the government and most lucrative licences, has amassed a personal fortune worth billions of dollars.