Rwanda: recent political and security developments

Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) remain in a dominant political position domestically. While this is in part due to the country’s considerable economic and development progress over the past decade, some argue that it also reflects a political culture in which open dissent is often not tolerated. Parliamentary elections are due in September 2013. Kagame has given indications that he may step down at the next presidential election, which is due in 2017.

Rwanda’s role in the African Great Lakes region remains controversial. Despite repeated denials on the part of its government, there is now virtually complete consensus across the international community that it has been providing military and political support to the largest rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the M23. This led donors, including the UK, to freeze some aid in late 2012, although there has been some resumption in recent months. There is general agreement that peace there will be impossible to achieve without Rwandan engagement. In recent months, another fragile peace process has been under way.