Rwandan model’s longevity will depend on donor support

Subject

Rwanda's governance model.

Significance

The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) celebrated its 30th anniversary in late 2017 with a series of major public events. Taken together, they provide a lens onto President Paul Kagame and the RPF’s rule -- and the very nature of power in Rwanda today. In particular, they demonstrate the extent to which the national political space now revolves around the figure of Kagame himself.

Impacts

• Despite impressive development gains, Rwanda’s goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2020 remains ambitious.
• The Rwanda National Congress, which includes many former senior RPF figures, is the main opposition threat, but faces internal divisions.
• Regional insecurity in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be destabilising if it spills across borders.