On 3 September 1959, the Union Nationale Rwandaise (UNAR) party was officially established in Rwanda. UNAR was a political party that emerged at a pivotal moment in Rwandan history, as the country was transitioning toward independence from Belgian colonial rule.
Context:
- Belgian Colonial Rule: Rwanda had been a Belgian colony since 1916, and its governance was marked by a monarchial system, where the King (Mwami) was the central figure. However, Belgian rule introduced a system of ethnic classification that exacerbated tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi populations, even though these distinctions had not been as rigidly defined in the pre-colonial era.
- Growing Independence Movements: As independence movements began to spread across Africa, political organizations began to form in Rwanda, seeking an end to colonial rule and advocating for the rights and interests of the various groups in the country.
Key Objectives of UNAR:
- Support for the Monarchy: UNAR strongly supported the Rwandan monarchy and the reigning Mwami (King), King Mutara III Rudahigwa, who had been a significant figure in the early push for independence. The party opposed the abolition of the monarchy, which was proposed by other political factions seeking more democratic or republican systems of governance.
- Push for Swift Independence: UNAR advocated for immediate and complete independence for Rwanda from Belgian rule. They were among the more radical factions pushing for a rapid end to the colonial system.
- Tutsi Leadership: The party was largely composed of the Tutsi elite and was thus considered to represent the interests of the Tutsi minority in Rwanda. UNAR’s platform stood in contrast to that of the Hutu-led parties, which were advocating for a more egalitarian system that would reduce Tutsi dominance in political and social affairs.
- Rural and Urban Support: UNAR was primarily backed by urban Tutsi elites but also garnered some support in rural areas, particularly from Tutsi who felt that they were being sidelined in the political transition.
Significance:
- Tensions with Hutu Parties: UNAR’s strong pro-monarchy and pro-Tutsi stance put it in direct opposition to other political movements, notably the Parmehutu party, which was founded by Grégoire Kayibanda and sought to represent the interests of the Hutu majority. The growing political tension between the Hutu and Tutsi populations eventually led to violent clashes and heightened ethnic divisions.
- Role in the Hutu Revolution: In 1959, just a few years after the establishment of UNAR, the political landscape in Rwanda dramatically shifted. The Hutu Revolution led to the overthrow of the monarchy, the establishment of a republic, and the dominance of Hutu-led parties in Rwanda. This political shift marked the beginning of a long history of ethnic tensions in Rwanda, as the Tutsi minority, once the political elite, was pushed out of power.
- Collapse of the Monarchy: The establishment of UNAR coincided with the final years of King Mutara III Rudahigwa’s reign. His death in 1959, under mysterious circumstances, further destabilized the political environment. Kayibanda’s Hutu-dominated government took power shortly afterward, leading to the exile of many Tutsis and the eventual implementation of discriminatory policies against them.
Legacy:
The establishment of the UNAR party was a reflection of the deep-seated political divisions that would come to define Rwanda’s post-colonial era. Its advocacy for the monarchy and Tutsi-led elite rule placed it in stark contrast with the Hutu Revolution that sought to dismantle the old system. The tensions between these two political factions would ultimately contribute to the genocide in 1994, with the divisions between Hutu and Tutsi becoming central to the ethnic violence that erupted during the period of civil war and genocide.
The UNAR’s role in the independence movement and its influence on Rwandan politics remains a symbol of pre-independence ethnic conflict and the political polarization that would characterize much of the country’s history in the following decades.