Violence-free elections in Rwanda, a testament of commendable resilience

The recent peaceful and incident-free presidential and parliamentary elections in Rwanda signify an extraordinary degree of resilience in a nation that endured the most heinous atrocities three decades ago—the Genocide against the Tutsi. On August 11, 2024, President Paul Kagame was inaugurated for his fourth term in office after securing a landslide victory in the July 15-16 elections with 99.18% of the vote. This piece does not aim to discuss the winners, the vanquished, or the mechanics of the electoral outcomes. Rather, its intent is to examine the election process, evaluate the National Electoral Commission’s (NEC) performance, and lessons that can be learned from the resilience of a low-income African country like Rwanda. The East African Community (EAC) Election Observation Mission described the elections as peaceful and credible, praising the manner in which the campaigns preceding the general elections were conducted in a serene atmosphere, allowing all legally registered political organizations and candidates to campaign freely. The Head of the Mission, Chief Justice (Emeritus) David Maraga, remarked that the electoral process was well-organised and devoid of any incidents of violence. The Election Mission of Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) underscored that the NEC and the Supreme Court of Rwanda have exhibited a consummate mastery of the electoral process. In a joint communiqué and press conference on July 17, all international observation missions, including the joint African Union (AU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) mission, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), the EAC, and OIF missions concurred that the NEC and other institutions involved in the electoral process discharged their duties with diligence and in accordance with the electoral calendar. The Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP), which deployed 290 observers nationwide, reported that the NEC implemented effective contingency measures. Observers highlighted several factors contributing to the smooth execution of the elections, including robust security, inclusivity measures that facilitated voting for people with disabilities, strict adherence to polling station schedules, and equitable media coverage. Notably, the Rwandan government financed the elections entirely without any external aid. Violence-free elections are uncommon and a testament to resilience. Similar to pre-genocide Rwanda, several other countries worldwide still face a challenge of extreme electoral violence. Even today, in some developed countries, elections are marred by animosity, manifesting as insults or the dehumanization of opposition parties and candidates. Given the history of a nation that has emerged from the devastating aftermath of genocide just 30 years ago, the effective management of the election process is a testament to an extraordinary degree of institutional resilience. This corroborates the findings of a recent resilience assessment study conducted jointly by the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) and Interpeace, an international organization for peacebuilding. The “Community-based Participatory Framework for the Assessment of Resilience in Rwanda” was carried out across all 30 districts of Rwanda and evaluated resilience at four levels—individual, household, community, and institutional—using a comprehensive set of 38 indicators. At the individual resilience level, two indicators—collaboration and negotiation, as well as empathy, tolerance and forgiveness—stood out with 87.5% and 85% respectively, suggesting that Rwandans have chosen to rebuild their bonds and, during major national events such as elections, reject any form of violence that would resurrect the specters of hate ideology which culminated into the genocide against the Tutsi. At the community level, a shared sense of national identity stands out with a high resilience score of 92%, followed by solidarity among community members and a shared vision for the future, both scoring 88%. This reflects a connection to a unified national identity, a strong sense of support, cohesion, and common goals within communities. Rwandans have learned from their tragic past and prefer to focus on their personal and national development. They understand unity as one of the essential ingredients needed to achieve a shared, prosperous future, manifesting in a peaceful, inclusive, and thriving nation. At the institutional level, effective security institutions lead the way with the highest score of 94%, underscoring Rwandans’ commitment to maintaining a secure and safe nation. This may also elucidate the safe environment in which the elections unfolded, guaranteed by professional security organs as highlighted by election observation missions. It also signifies the resilience of other institutions such as the NEC, which has been lauded for its professional handling of elections, obviously within the context of a country still grappling with the consequences of the genocide that devastated the societal fabric. Both from the study cited earlier, and based on their conduct during this past election, Rwandans are making good progress in the process of building a collective vision for a peaceful and prosperous future, and clearly all peacebuilding and civil rights advocates ought to reflect on how this spirit can be nurtured and supported, as opposed to cynical interpretations that are observed at times. To achieve sustainability and robust resilience among Rwandans, all stakeholders—government, religious, and Civil Society organisations, as well as international and development organisations—should prioritise: Support the scale up of existing initiatives in societal healing to ensure effective responses to unresolved traumas associated with the genocide and its aftermath, thereby maintaining the country's peaceful trajectory. Emphasise peace and civic education programmes and campaigns to enlighten the youth and pique their interest in the history and reconstruction process of Rwanda, thus facilitating intergenerational dialogue. This will enable them to uphold their civic responsibilities, perpetuate a culture of peace, and strengthen a shared national identity. Elaborate awareness campaigns against misinformation, disinformation, considering the increasing instances of polarisation, hate speech, and propaganda on social networks, which intensified also during election period. Develop programmes aimed at building collaboration and negotiation skills at all levels and fostering practical compassion to promote social solidarity and community cohesion. The author is a Communications Professional

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Violence-free elections in Rwanda, a testament of commendable resilience