On 17 December 1978, Rwandans approved a revised constitution through a referendum. This constitution significantly reshaped Rwanda’s political landscape by establishing the MRND (Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Développement) as the sole legally recognized political party.
Key Details:
- One-Party Rule:
- The revised constitution declared MRND as the only political organization in Rwanda.
- Every Rwandan was automatically a member of the MRND, effectively eliminating any form of political opposition or multiparty system.
- Leadership Centralization:
- President Juvénal Habyarimana, who led the coup against Grégoire Kayibanda in 1973, became both the head of state and the leader of the MRND.
- This constitution granted Habyarimana sweeping powers, further entrenching his control over the country’s political, social, and economic systems.
- Political Context:
- Habyarimana justified the one-party rule as a means of promoting unity and development, arguing that a multiparty system would foster division in the ethnically sensitive country.
- In reality, this system suppressed dissent, consolidated power within a small elite circle, and marginalized groups opposed to the regime’s policies.
- Consequences:
- The MRND’s monopoly on political power lasted until the early 1990s, when internal dissent and international pressure forced Rwanda to adopt political reforms.
- The constitution’s establishment of one-party rule contributed to a political culture of exclusion and suppression, setting the stage for future tensions and conflicts.
The approval of this constitution marked a pivotal moment in Rwanda’s political history, defining the structure of governance for over a decade. However, its restrictive nature also sowed the seeds of discontent that would later challenge Habyarimana’s regime.