In the previous article in this series, we looked at how MDR-PARMEHUTU became a de-facto single party from 1963 after eliminating opposition political parties. Its oppressive policies would over time engender armed struggle as the only means to regain political, social, economic rights. The Inyenzi phenomenon was born out of the context, as we shall see in this piece.
The UNAR party was persecuted by the Belgian trusteeship administration and the catholic hierarchy (especially some missionaries) because of its nationalist ideology as well as its links with countries of the Socialist Bloc.
UNAR supported anti-colonialist and national movements. It participated in the legislative elections of 1961 and a coalition government from February 1962 to February 1963. UNAR did not present candidates in 1965 and thereafter. The repression it suffered made it split into two wings (the internal and external). Its external wing further split into factions.
PARMEHUTU perpetrated political and physical terrorism aimed at destroying UNAR which climaxed in December 1963. This was after the incursion of the Inyenzi in Bugesera.
UNAR and RADER leaders were arrested on the day of the attack. The national police in Ruhengeri executed them on the orders of a Belgian military officer known as "Pilate”. There was no trial. The internal wing of UNAR had condemned the "Inyenzi terrorism” after the raid launched on 4th July 1962.
In the local council elections of 1960, RADER got 6.6 per cent of the votes. In the legislative elections of 1961, it got 0.3 per cent of the votes. Thereafter, its political role became inexistent. Its members either joined PARMEHUTU or UNAR.
In principle, PARMEHUTU did not need the procedures it undertook, hence the hard conditions. It enjoyed an uncontested political monopoly. It would even have taken advantage of the situation to become more cohesive. This did not happen because of the pressures by some PARMEHUTU leaders to consolidate all power as well as the hatred and the ideology of exclusion in which they were brought up.
Armed opposition of Inyenzi (1961-1968)
The onset of the violence that started in November 1959 forced many Rwandans to leave the country and settle in the neighbouring countries. From 1961, these some of Rwandans, known as "Inyenzi,” made several raids into Rwanda from neighbouring countries.
The origin of the term "Inyenzi” much as is difficult to trace for some, it was an abbreviation of "Ingangurarugo yemeye kuba ingenzi”. Ingangurarugo were the elite forces of King Kigeli IV Rwabugiri. The word meant those who vowed to stand out. Every king would have an elite force associated with his reign. It was a patriotic move associated with the valour and prowess of Rwabugiri during military expeditions.
In 1960, the idea of creating an army was born among young Rwandan refugees in Kizinga, Uganda, near the border with Rwanda. Kizinga was one of the first refugee camps to be established when persecuted Rwandans fled the country. The objective was to launch a struggle against the Belgians and the new PERMEHUTU leaders.
When UNAR failed to convince the international community to change the course of events in Rwanda, young refugees decided to take up arms as the only option.
UNAR did not create the Inyenzi phenomenon as is widely held. It was created when the leadership of the external wing of UNAR was busy with diplomatic activities at the UN. Some UNAR leaders hence Francois Rukeba, joined the Inyenzi movement on their own. There was no party approval.
The movement was made up of different groups. They were created at different times in countries neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Congo and Tanzania.
They carried out commando-type operations requiring fewer fighters targeting specific objectives inside the country. For instance, an attack December 21, 1961 from Uganda via Kinigi targeted some individuals in Ruhengeri, Kigali and Gitarama territories.
In April 1962, another attack from Uganda targeted some localities in the eastern part of the country.
We will witness the course of armed struggle against MDR-PAMEHUTU and trusteeship authority as this series will show.