Rwandan president Paul Kagame is a much debated political figure. By many world leaders he is seen as the hero who liberated Rwanda of the genocide in 1994 after which he and his government brought...Show moreRwandan president Paul Kagame is a much debated political figure. By many world leaders he is seen as the hero who liberated Rwanda of the genocide in 1994 after which he and his government brought development and prosper to the country. Yet, reports on his human right violations inside Rwanda and, perhaps more visible, in neighbouring Congo, raise questions about his violent rule. Strong censorship and reconciliation policies have been set in place to protect the Rwandan government and Kagame himself, making him an untouchable leader, but a voice of criticism on his rule grows. This thesis explores the theory of authoritarian rule, discussing how Kagame's political actions in Rwanda and Congo display elements of a personalist rule.Show less
This paper explores the effects of the reconciliation policies in Rwanda that have been implemented after the genocide in 1994 on the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. An overview of the ethnic...Show moreThis paper explores the effects of the reconciliation policies in Rwanda that have been implemented after the genocide in 1994 on the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. An overview of the ethnic tension that eventually caused the genocide is given in order to give an understanding of the ethnic relation between the Hutus and the Tutsis. The events of the genocide also show what caused the difficult relation between the international community and the current Rwandan government and how the conflict shifted borders. In the aftermath of the genocide, the Rwandan government led by Paul Kagame, implemented policies to create a national narrative and reject the ethnical division that caused the genocide, but at the same time, the national narrative clearly identifies the victims and the predators of the genocide. Even though the ethnic issues are seemingly resolved in Rwanda, ethnicity still plays an important role in the conflict in Eastern Congo. Hutu refugees are as a collective regarded as the predators of the genocide and they are still fighting Tutsi rebel groups who are supported by Kagame and his RPF forces.Show less
