“Responsible Citizenship in a Post-Conflict Context”

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda horrified the world with its extreme brutality. However, in the intervening years, media coverage of the country has decreased dramatically, and Rwanda’s situation has faded from the attention of the international community. Most people outside of the country, therefore, are largely unaware of the immense social, political, and economic challenges still facing Rwanda.

In his Feature Service article, Pie-Pacifique Kabalira-Uwase, a Rwandan living in exile in South Africa and an honorable mention winner in CIPE’s youth essay competition, describes how history is being re-written in the country and the government’s policies to de-ethnicize Rwanda are actually doing the opposite. Especially for young people, this widespread propagation of revisionist history makes it very difficult for them to feel part of a Rwandan nation – the ethnic distinctions of Hutu and Tutsi are still people’s primary identity.

“Responsible Citizenship in a Post-Conflict Context,” was entered in the “Citizenship in a Democratic Society” category and notes that democracy and stability are currently very unstable in Rwanda. Open discussions of the past are not encouraged and political space is tightly controlled – there is no freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, or freedom of expression. This is leading Rwanda down a very dangerous path.

However, young Rwandans do not have to stand by passively and let the government interpret history – and determine the future – for them. As Pie-Pacifique says, “Citizenship is a personal, conscious choice,” and young people should not wait for someone to present them with the opportunity to become proactive citizens. It’s up to young people to shape their own future, and the author offers a number of suggestions for youth on how they can contribute to strengthening democracy and overcoming the past.

Article at a Glance

• Rwanda’s history is being dangerously re-interpreted and the freedoms of its citizens are at risk.

• Youth are forced to accept the government’s position that Rwanda is “on the way forward,” regardless of unclear and questionable government policies.

• Young Rwandan citizens must take responsibility to overcome the past and actively contribute to building a free and open future.