CREATION OF RWANDA FORCES FOR THE REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRACY (FRD)

MUSANZE DECLARATION, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | N°001/11/2023

CREATION OF RWANDA FORCES FOR THE REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRACY (FRD)

Since taking power in July 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), with Paul Kagame as leader, has deliberately established a political system based on a supremacist, racist and tyrannical ideology. This system is in no way different from the feudal-monarchical Union Nationale Rwandaise (UNAR) party which ruled Rwanda before the Revolution of 1959 and its accession to independence in 1962. Indeed, just like the UNAR, the current RPF system has been distinguished, since its triumph in 1994, by a pure and harsh dictatorship, intimidation of populations, physical eliminations, injustice, oppression as well as permanent violations of human rights. The political space is completely closed; freedom of expression no longer exists; arbitrary imprisonments, torture and forced disappearances, non-respect of the constitution and the laws, terror among the population, massacring Rwandan refugees in their host countries as well as the politics of dividing the people has replaced the rule of law.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the RPF regime has, in its madness of grandeur, designed a policy of destabilization of the region in general and neighboring countries in particular. And RPF does this through the creation of armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi; they continue to provoke and fuel incessant tensions and wars in these countries even though the citizens of these neighboring countries have historically been brothers of the Rwandan people. The resurgence of the feudal-monarchical political system identical to the infamous UNAR-Mwami Party-, marked the end of the achievements of the Rwandan Revolution of 1959 which an overwhelming majority of Rwandans, all ethnic groups combined Twa, Tutsi and Hutu, had gained at the cost of immense sacrifices. The said revolution allowed the proclamation of the Republic, the establishment of a democratic and popular regime with legitimate leaders and peaceful power, which made it possible to safeguard the rights of citizens and, for the first time in the world Rwanda history, equality of all before the law was established.

The RPF regime contemptuously rejected any call for dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the socio-political and economic problems facing our people. We can cite as an example the recent combined efforts of the opposition parties and the Rwandan community in exile, which in January 2023 called the Rwandan Government to the negotiating table but in vain. Their noble and peaceful request aimed at the cessation of all politico-military support by the RPF regime of armed groups involved in the destabilization of the sub-region such as RCD-Goma, CNDP, M23 (N°1), RED-TABARA and M23 (No. 2) currently active in the East of the DRC. These parties also called for the umpteenth time to put an end to the abuses and crimes of the RPF regime inside the country but also beyond its borders, namely the massacres, death threats and disappearances of which the victims are Rwandan nationals living in SADC countries and elsewhere. And in their press release of February 27, 2023, the armed opposition parties in turn called, in vain, for the opening of negotiations through a highly inclusive inter-Rwandan dialogue with the Rwandan Government, which would have made it possible to find a peaceful solution to the refugees’ problems.

Thus, given the suffering and despair of the Rwandan people and considering that the RPF regime remains intractable despite all the efforts made by the Opposition Parties, even by the leaders of the countries of the region and that of the international community, and that it seems impossible to reach a peaceful solution to Rwandan problems;

We, the Rwandan youth, men and women both from within the country and from outside, have made the decision that the time has come to respond to the call of the Rwandan people and take control of our destiny, by all ways and by all means recognized by international law.

Thanks to the efforts following the press releases mentioned above, the good collaboration of different commands of the forces and political leaders; and following the general appeal of refugees and the oppressed Rwandan people both inside the country and outside for their protection and liberation from the yoke of the RPF, the decision was taken to create the RWANDA FORCES FOR THE REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRACY (FRD-INGABO ZA RUBANDA) and to formalize their establishment on this day of November 10, 2023.

Our struggle fundamentally aims to restore the achievements of the Republic and of a democratic State where the rule of law will be respected; of a State where the people will have the right to democratic and equitable governance. We want a country where all men and women are born free and equal, a country where all citizens are truly equal before the law and national institutions. We are fighting for a better future for our people which cannot be achieved without the restoration of lasting peace and democracy, guarantees of stability in Rwanda and in the sub-region.

The FRD-INGABO ZA RUBANDA will be on the front line to defend the Rwandan people. Our force will be available to the people to fight and to support them throughout the process of restoring republican and democratic principles. All actions that will be carried out in our struggle will be in the best interest of the population of Rwanda in all its ethnic components - Twas, Tutsis, Hutus and without any distinction.

To this end, we launch a solemn appeal to all Rwandans but also to anyone who loves justice and freedom to join us and/or provide support to the Rwandan Forces for the Republic and Democracy (FRD– INGABO ZA RUBANDA). The FRD–INGABO ZA RUBANDA also launch a particular and specific appeal to the Rwandan opposition political parties who still believe and identify themselves in the republican ideology, to mobilize to support our efforts to liberate our oppressed people and to re-establish a democratic regime and governance in our dear country.

We ask all Rwandans and friends of the Rwandan people: individuals, groups or associations affected directly or indirectly by the tyranny of the RPF to support our struggle by all means.

We ask the countries of the region, the SADC countries and the international community to respect our choice and subsequently support us in this process of exercising our right to free ourselves from an oppressive regime.

Finally, we call on the general mobilization of the Rwandan people as a whole, reminding them that it is our primary responsibility to put an end to this feudal-monarchical system of the RPF and to re-establish the Rwandan Republic.

The FRD–INGABO ZA RUBANDA thank the Rwandan people and the leaders of the countries and organizations concerned as well as the international community as a whole for remaining attentive and supportive of the Rwandan people in their quest for change.

Done in Musanze, this November 10th, 2023

Lt Colonel MUSONI Epimaque

FRD Spokesperson

Email: frdingabozarubanda@protonmail.com || Twitter: @FRD_INGABO

WITH GOD, WE WILL PREVAIL!