Youth Spotlight

Rwandan Youth and the Movement de Liberation Revolutionnaire

1. Your organization, Movement de Liberation Revolutionnaire, calls upon youth in exile to help reform Rwanda. How do you actively promote a united and stable Rwanda through youth both in and outside of the country?

We call upon all youth, within Rwanda and outside, to realize that they are the core strength of our nation in every sense. They are at the prime of their productivity that is so crucial to build Rwanda. The potential for this national rebuilding is at its greatest now. Any success depends on the young Rwandans to unite and give to Rwanda what they are obliged to give to their mother nation – a better stable future in every sense.

2. What are youth doing to make their voices heard in preparation for the upcoming election in Rwanda?

Unfortunately, there is oppression of the opposition parties in Rwanda, so much that anyone who has workable alternative to the RPF’s political ideas is accused of genocide ideology. This is a major obstacle for campaigning for the greatly needed change in Rwanda. However, our website provides our vision for the Rwanda of the future. Again unfortunately, not many Rwandans have access to the internet, especially those in Rwanda. But we have open forums where those who can, may ask questions and take part, giving their opinions to our objectives as a party. We have urgent needs to reach Rwanda through the media, especially the radio, TV and papers. And with this we call upon our supporters and sponsors to help us break this barrier. Any donations, and any opportunity to reach the greater audience (despite the current media restriction in Rwanda) are very welcome.

3. How do you think youth should engage themselves and actively participate in the election process to ensure that they are fair and transparent?

I think the youth and their party should have representatives in the electoral commission, and we expect the Rwandan government to accept the MLR as a youth movement and allow them to freely campaign and participate in the parliamentary and presidential elections, unconditionally. Everyone must see that the power of our nation is in our hands as young people.

4. For many youth in Rwanda, this could be the first time that they have a president other than Paul Kagame. How are they responding to this new opportunity for change?

The departure of Paul Kagame is the change that the youth in Rwanda eagerly anticipate. This is mainly because his regime has largely been repressive. He and his RPF have gravely violated the human rights and there is no question about that. He has not given the people of Rwanda the opportunities they need to live free and successful lives. He has favored a circle of his elite friends appropriating the nation’s wealth for themselves despite the suffering of the ordinary Rwandans, he neglected the freedom and development of the majority of Rwandans. Because of him, Rwanda is synonymous with violence and genocide and it seems he intends that things should stay that way. Certainly his departure is what the youth of the nation hope for and expect. Not only because these young people cannot be smeared with genocide, but also because they do not want to be bear the name that has been so badly given to Rwanda by Kagame’s regime.

5. There have been several instances of recent violence in Rwanda. What should youth do to prevent further violence?

The young people must respect the security of the nation, and aspire greater peace for the country. We encourage them to denounce violence, and resist any level of oppression whereby anyone would be intimidated of harmed. We are a non-violent movement, and we fight for democracy, and we call upon all young people to realize that there can be no democracy without peace. So we support the peace and campaign through peaceful means.
 
We want the Rwandan government to listen to us, the nation; the government must listen to the views and attend the needs of the nation, and allow everyone to achieve their best in building Rwanda.