The Patriotic Game

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Lore & Background

The RPF traces its roots to the Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU), created in December 1979 in Nairobi, Kenya, by young Rwandan Tutsi refugee intellectuals, most of whom had grown up in Uganda. RANU was established to discuss a possible return to Rwanda. It became militant after Milton Obote's election in 1980, resulting in many Tutsi refugees joining Yoweri Museveni in fighting the Ugandan Bush War. Following the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979, a failed attempt to force all Rwandan refugees into refugee camps in February 1982 drove 40,000 refugees back into Rwanda. Rwanda declared that they recognized only 4,000 of these as Rwandan nationals, while Uganda declared that they would take back only 1,000. The remaining 35,000 were left in a legal limbo along the border region for years. 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. Paul Kagame was appointed acting chief of military intelligence. In December 1987, RANU held its seventh congress in Kampala and renamed itself the Rwandan Patriotic Front. Its principles include "Unity, Sovereignty and Security, Economy, Democratic Leadership, Fighting Corruption, Eliminating All Causes of Refugee Status, International Relations, Social Welfare, and Fighting Genocide and Its Ideology." On 1 October 1990, the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the military wing of RPF led by Major-General Fred Gisa Rwigema, invaded Rwanda, initiating the Rwandan Civil War. Rwigema died the following day. Paul Kagame, who had been doing military studies in the United States, returned to take over the RPA. The RPA resorted to guerrilla attacks, gaining control of much of the north of the country in 1992. Negotiations led to the signing of the Arusha Accords in 1993, allowing RPF personnel and other refugees to return. 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. The assassination was likely perpetrated by either Hutu extremists or the RPF. The downing of the plane served as the catalyst for the Rwandan genocide, which began within a few hours. Over approximately 100 days, more than 500,000 Tutsi were killed and an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women were raped. The RPF invaded Rwanda with its military wing, fighting government forces and gradually taking control of the country. The genocide was completely stopped when Kigali was captured by the RPF army on 4 July. After the RPF stopped the genocide and took control of the country, in 1994, it formed a government headed by president Pasteur Bizimungu. The vice president and de-facto leader of the RPF, Paul Kagame, became Minister of Defense and vice-president. Bizimungu served for six years and resigned in 2000. He formed his political party, the Party for Democratic Renewal, in 2001 and was arrested in 2002. Having received a 15-year prison sentence for crimes including inciting ethnic violence and embezzlement, Bizimungu was released with a pardon from President Kagame in 2007. In February 1998 Kagame was elected president of the RPF, replacing Alexis Kanyarengwe, and in March 2000 he became the national president. Following a constitutional referendum in 2003, 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. The coalition won 42 seats in the 2008 parliamentary elections, and Kagame was re-elected as president in 2010 with 93% of the vote. The 2013 parliamentary elections saw the RPF-led coalition win 41 seats. In 2017, 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, and again in 2024. In the post-genocide era, the RPF established Rwanda's national unity and democratic government. Under the three consecutive Kagame presidencies, the Rwandan government has developed various national programs to improve infrastructure and facilitate justice in the wake of the genocide, including community work holidays (Umuganda) and gacaca courts.

In Their Own Story

In July 2024, Rwanda held elections, confirming Paul Kagame's victory with 99.18% of the votes on July 15. Opposition parties were severely repressed, facing arbitrary arrest or imprisonment, with some members being "found dead in mysterious circumstances." Nonetheless, the ruling party saw its representation in parliament decrease, securing 37 of 53 directly elected seats, down from 40. Only two candidates were allowed to run against Paul Kagame, while others were barred from participating. The Rwandan Electoral Commission stated that the other candidates lacked the necessary documents to run in the 2024 election. The Democratic Green Party retained two seats, with the remainder going to the Rwandan Patriotic Front.

Reader's Guide

The RPF sees rapprochement among Rwandans as a prerequisite for socioeconomic growth, establishment of national peace, and the restoration of dignity to every Rwandan. According to the party, it adheres to the Third Way. Current leaders include Chairman Paul Kagame, Vice-chairwoman Consolee Uwimana, and Secretary General Wellars Gasamagera. General commissioners include 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, and Juliana Muganza.

Did You Know?

• The RPF was founded in December 1987 by Rwandan Tutsi exiled in Uganda because of the ethnic violence during the Rwandan Hutu Revolution of 1959–1962.
• The Rwandan genocide ended on 4 July 1994 with the RPF conquest of the entire country.
• Paul Kagame was elected president of the RPF in February 1998 and became national president in March 2000.
• In the 2017 presidential election, Kagame was re-elected for a third term with 98.8 percent of the vote.
• The RPF adheres to the Third Way ideology.