Mouvement républicain national pour la démocratie et le développement
Encyclopedia
National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (French: Mouvement républicain national pour la démocratie et le développement, MRND) was the ruling political party of Rwanda
from 1975 to 1994 under President Juvénal Habyarimana
. It was dominated by Hutu
s, particularly from President Habyarimana's home region of Northern Rwanda. The party was founded in 1975 as the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (Mouvement Révolutionaire National pour le Développement
). From 1975 until 1991, the MRND was the only legal political party in the country, and all citizens were required to be members. It was modeled loosely on the Communist parties in China and North Korea, with institutional structures that paralleled the government structures at each level, down to the sector and cell. The party's name was changed after the legalization of opposition political parties in 1991.
After the RPF invasion in 1990, members of the MRND created the magazine Kangura
. The youth wing of the party, the Interahamwe
, was later developed into a militia group that played a key role in the 1994 genocide. After Habyarimana's death in April 1994, hardline elements of the party were among the chief architects of the Rwandan Genocide
. After Rwanda was conquered by the rival Tutsi-dominated Rwandese Patriotic Front led by Paul Kagame
, the MRND was driven from power and outlawed.
The Coalition for the Defence of the Republic
, which played a large role in the Rwandan genocide, was a hard-line faction of the MRND that became a separate party.
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
from 1975 to 1994 under President Juvénal Habyarimana
Juvénal Habyarimana
Juvénal Habyarimana was the third President of the Republic of Rwanda, the post he held longer than any other president to date, from 1973 until 1994. During his 20-year rule he favored his own ethnic group, the Hutus, and supported the Hutu majority in neighboring Burundi against the Tutsi...
. It was dominated by Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
s, particularly from President Habyarimana's home region of Northern Rwanda. The party was founded in 1975 as the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (Mouvement Révolutionaire National pour le Développement
Mouvement Révolutionaire National pour le Développement
Mouvement Révolutionaire National pour le Développement is a former Rwandan political party...
). From 1975 until 1991, the MRND was the only legal political party in the country, and all citizens were required to be members. It was modeled loosely on the Communist parties in China and North Korea, with institutional structures that paralleled the government structures at each level, down to the sector and cell. The party's name was changed after the legalization of opposition political parties in 1991.
After the RPF invasion in 1990, members of the MRND created the magazine Kangura
Kangura
Kangura was a Kinyarwanda- and French-language magazine in Rwanda that served to stoke ethnic hatred in the run-up to the Rwandan Genocide. It was established in 1990, following the invasion of the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front , and continued publishing up to the genocide...
. The youth wing of the party, the Interahamwe
Interahamwe
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization. The militia enjoyed the backing of the Hutu-led government leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Since the genocide, they have been forced out of Rwanda, and have sought asylum in Congo...
, was later developed into a militia group that played a key role in the 1994 genocide. After Habyarimana's death in April 1994, hardline elements of the party were among the chief architects of the Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
. After Rwanda was conquered by the rival Tutsi-dominated Rwandese Patriotic Front led by Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
, the MRND was driven from power and outlawed.
The Coalition for the Defence of the Republic
Coalition for the Defence of the Republic
The Coalition for the Defence of the Republic was a Rwandan genocidal Hutu political party founded by Juvénal Habyarimana in march 1992. The Coalition for the Defence of the Republic was allied with the ruling Mouvement républicain national pour la démocratie et le développement party...
, which played a large role in the Rwandan genocide, was a hard-line faction of the MRND that became a separate party.
See also
- ParmehutuParmehutuParmehutu , also known as MDR-Parmehutu is a now-defunct political party of Rwanda and Burundi.It was founded by Grégoire Kayibanda as a political party of moderate Hutu...
- Edouard KaremeraEdouard KaremeraÉdouard Karemera is a former Rwandan politician. He is chiefly known for his alleged role in the Rwandan Genocide.Born in Mabanza commune, Kibuya préfecture, Rwanda, of Hutu ethnicity, Karemana held the position of Minister of Institutional Relations in the government of Juvénal Habyarimana of...
- Coalition for the Defence of the RepublicCoalition for the Defence of the RepublicThe Coalition for the Defence of the Republic was a Rwandan genocidal Hutu political party founded by Juvénal Habyarimana in march 1992. The Coalition for the Defence of the Republic was allied with the ruling Mouvement républicain national pour la démocratie et le développement party...