KUVUGURURA INZEGO Z'UMUTEKANO HAMWE N'INGABO Z'IGIHUGU

HOST: Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa

Reform of the Security Sector

Dictatorships, in Rwanda and elsewhere, rely on the coercive machinery of the state to suppress citizens? aspirations for democracy. Similarly, President Kagame has turned the military and security institutions of Rwanda into instruments to promote and protect his personal financial and political interests. Rwanda?s security institutions lack transparent management and democratic oversight. The military and security services are all controlled by President Kagame, his former body guards and personal assistants. The formal leaders of Rwanda?s military structures often have no real power within the institutions they ostensibly lead. The command of military institutions is composed almost exclusively of members of President Kagame?s inner circle and come from the Tutsi community, resulting in the exclusion of Rwanda?s ethnic majority in the military and security services. Further, as Rwanda?s government is essentially a military government with a façade of a democracy, Rwanda?s military and security institutions do not have any civilian oversight.