Factors and Challenges for National Independence
Senior 3 · History and Citizenship
Factors and Challenges for National Independence
Lesson 1 of 4
20 min
Rwanda became independent on 1 July 1962. Read two articles of the Constitution in force today:
"All power derives from Rwandans and is exercised in accordance with this Constitution." (Article 1)
"The Rwandan State is an independent, sovereign, democratic, social and secular Republic." (Article 4)
Source A. Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003, revised in 2015 (English version).
Analysing the source. Article 1 places the source of power in the people; Article 4 puts independent and sovereign side by side. Independence in 1962 ended colonial rule, but a country whose budget, security or decisions depend on others is only partly free. Historians therefore separate formal independence, the legal end of colonial rule, from real independence: the ability to make and carry out one's own decisions. The First and Second Republics (Senior 2, Unit 8) were formally independent, yet they depended heavily on foreign support and divided Rwandans against each other.
Definition
National independence: the condition of a country that governs itself and makes its own political, economic and social decisions without control by another state.
Sovereignty: the supreme authority of a state over its territory and people. Example: Rwanda alone decides its laws and its budget.
Self-reliance: the ability of a person, community or country to meet its needs mainly from its own resources and efforts.
Good governance: running public affairs in a way that is accountable, transparent, effective and fair, and that respects the rule of law.
Foreign policy: the way a country manages its relations with other countries and organisations.
National independence rests on several factors at once. The diagram groups them into three pillars. This lesson studies the first; Lesson 2 studies the other two.
| Factor | Why it supports independence | A Rwandan example |
|---|---|---|
| National unity | A divided people can be manipulated by outsiders and cannot agree on national goals | Ndi Umunyarwanda and the rejection of divisionism in the Constitution |
| Security and defence | A state that cannot protect its borders and citizens depends on others for its survival | The Rwanda Defence Force and the Rwanda National Police |
| Good governance and accountability | Leaders who answer to citizens use public resources for national goals, not private ones | Imihigo performance contracts; the Office of the Ombudsman fights corruption |
| Rule of law and strong institutions | Laws and institutions keep working whoever holds office, so the state is stable | The Constitution, Parliament, courts and the Auditor General |
| Citizen participation | People who share decisions also share responsibility for carrying them out | Elections, Umushyikirano (the National Dialogue Council), local councils |
| Foreign policy and regional cooperation | Good partners, chosen by the country itself, increase its choices rather than limit them | Membership of the EAC and the African Union; troops in UN and African Union peace operations |
Worked example: explaining a factor
Question: Explain how national unity contributes to national independence. (3 marks)
State the link: a united people agree on national goals and defend them together.
Explain the opposite: when citizens are divided, outside powers can play one group against another; colonial rule used "divide and rule", and the divisions it hardened led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Give an example: Ndi Umunyarwanda encourages citizens to see themselves as Rwandans first, which strengthens the country's ability to decide its own future.
Can a country be fully independent if it belongs to regional organisations such as the East African Community, which make some decisions jointly? Think about what the country gains and what it shares.
Tip
Formal versus real. When a question asks about "national independence", show that you know the difference: 1962 was formal independence; real independence depends on political, economic and socio-cultural factors that must be built and kept up.
Practice
Sources and credits
