Post-independence Rwanda

Lessons

Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies

Post-independence Rwanda

5 lessons

Lesson 4 of 5

The Liberation Struggle (1990–1994)

25 min

Let's begin

Many children born in refugee camps had never seen Rwanda. Still, they sang its songs and spoke Kinyarwanda at home.

"One day we will go home," their parents promised.

Today you will learn how Rwandans in exile organised to come home, and how the liberation struggle changed Rwanda.

From refugees to the RPF Inkotanyi

In 1979, Rwandan refugees formed a group called RANU (the Rwandese Alliance for National Unity). In 1987, RANU became the Rwandese Patriotic Front, the RPF Inkotanyi.

Why the liberation struggle began

The RPF Inkotanyi fought to:

end the refugee problem and bring exiled Rwandans home;
end discrimination and divisionism;
end bad leadership, dictatorship and nepotism;
build national unity and democracy;
and, in 1994, stop the killing of the Tutsi.

Key events

Date	Event
1 October 1990	The RPF Inkotanyi begins the liberation struggle. Its leader, Fred Gisa Rwigema, is killed at the start, and Paul Kagame takes command.
1990–1993	Fighting and peace talks take place at the same time.
4 August 1993	The Arusha Peace Agreement is signed in Tanzania. It promises to share power, bring refugees home and form one national army. Extremists in the government refuse to carry it out.
7 April 1994	The Genocide against the Tutsi begins. The RPF Inkotanyi fights to stop it.
4 July 1994	The RPF Inkotanyi takes Kigali. Rwanda celebrates this day every year as Liberation Day, Kwibohora.
19 July 1994	A Government of National Unity is formed, led by President Pasteur Bizimungu, with Paul Kagame as Vice-President.

Why liberation matters

It stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi.
It ended discrimination as government policy.
Refugees could finally come home.
Identity cards no longer carry ethnic labels. Every citizen is simply Rwandan.

Tip

1-10-1990 to 4-7-1994

The struggle began on 1 October 1990. Kigali was liberated on 4 July 1994: Kwibohora.

✦

Try it yourself

Answer each one, then tap Show answer to check.

1

What does RPF stand for?

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Answer: Rwandese Patriotic Front.

2

Give two objectives of the liberation struggle.

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Answer: any two of: bring refugees home, end discrimination, end dictatorship and nepotism, build national unity, stop the killing of the Tutsi.

3

What was the Arusha Peace Agreement?

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Answer: a peace agreement signed on 4 August 1993 to share power, bring refugees home and form one army. Extremists refused to carry it out.

4

Why do Rwandans celebrate 4 July?

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Answer: it is Liberation Day (Kwibohora), when the RPF Inkotanyi took Kigali in 1994.

Quick check

Put these events in order, from the earliest to the latest.

Tap the cards in the right order.

What you learned today

The RPF Inkotanyi grew from refugees who wanted to come home and end discrimination.
The struggle began on 1 October 1990; Kigali was liberated on 4 July 1994 (Kwibohora).
A Government of National Unity was formed on 19 July 1994.

Sources and credits

Written by Ganzaa. No openly licensed history of this period with suitable framing was found, so Ganzaa wrote this lesson in its own words.
Background checked against the Government of Rwanda's official history, About Rwanda (gov.rw). Link only; no text copied.

1From refugees to the RPF Inkotanyi

2Why the liberation struggle began

3Key events

4Why liberation matters

Try it yourself

From refugees to the RPF Inkotanyi

Why the liberation struggle began

Key events

Why liberation matters