Republican Rally For Democracy in Rwanda - RDR Struggle

RDR Struggle

RDR strived to establish itself as the refugees' representative movement to negotiate for their peaceful return. The RDR group was often overshadowed by the existence of the exiled government and Hutu militants who wanted to control refugee camps and access to resources for their military activities. RDR leaders were also faced with the refusal of the de facto Rwandan government to negotiate. The new RPF-led government refused to recognise RDR as legitimate organisation with no association with military movements that were active in camps.

However, the RDR received very controversial support from members of the ex-Rwandan Armed Forces in exile as other Rwandan refugees in the same situation. Notwithstanding the Rwandan Armed Forces's history, its motion was intended to be expression of same support that the RDR received from other refugee organs that supported its goals: peaceful return of refugees. Several other organizations, associations or NGOs also sent messages of support and encouragement to the young RDR.

The RDR struggled through difficult terrain. First, the RPF, which saw in RDR a new political opponent to destroy at any price, was quick to demonize the movement. Secondarily, some members of the exiled government did not accept to lose the role of torch bearer of refugees. Thirdly, RDR had a mission to give to the international community the other side of the story on the tragedy of Rwanda so that refugees could recover their rights.

Even more difficult, RDR struggled to represent refugees when their camps were destroyed and a large number of refugees were forced to return to Rwanda against their will, others fleeing deeper into Congolese forests and beyond as a result of the first and second Congo civil wars. RDR disassociated itself from armed groups and insisted on peaceful means to represent exclusively refugees, in alliance with other peaceful Rwandan opposition parties in exile.