In the previous article in this series, we saw how the Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU) was created. It drew strategy from the failure of UNAR to usher in a new era. Time and evolution of events led RANU to morph into the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), whose objectives and strategy we shall understand as we move forward.

RANU had many objectives. It aimed at fighting against ethnic divisions and the ideology of divisionism by the Habyarimana regime. It sought to fight against the grabbing of Rwanda’s riches by a small group of people. The other objective was to instil into the Rwandans a sense of consciousness as far as their rights were concerned.

It sought a solution to the refugee problem and fought the fascist regime of Kigali. The strategy aimed at uniting all Rwandan intellectuals inside the country and in the diaspora to restore national unity in the spirit of "true democratic republicanism”.

RANU insisted very much on the involvement of individuals and rejected any attempt to belong to groups. Apart from undertaking to mobilise the Rwandan population, RANU was involved in discreet action towards some embassies and sending petitions to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). It sought the attention of the international community to the problem of the Rwandan refugees who, except for being mentioned here and there, were practically forgotten. These efforts were significant because these contacts allowed for a better understanding of the reasons for the beginning of the war RPF launched on October 1, 1990.

The main organs of RANU were the Congress which met every two years, the General Assembly which held annual meetings and regional committees at local, regional and central levels. During RANU’s recruitment, members had to take an oath. It operated on democratic principles i.e. decisions were taken by the majority. The organs of expression and mobilisation were: "Alliancers” which was replaced by "Vanguard” in 1987, which in turn disappeared in 1990 when the war started.

At the outset, RANU mainly targeted Rwandan intellectuals living in the diaspora and the international community. Time dictated RANU to decide on a military option. It was necessary to include all Rwandans in its activities. This began with refugees generally and then the elites. Finally, it was important to have permanent cadres who were well-trained to manage the movement and continue with the mobilisation program.

Once the importance of the military option became clear, the persecution of Rwandans and Ugandans of Rwandan origin gave the young Rwandans reason to join the Museveni rebellion to acquire experience that would help them to wage an armed struggle to force their return to Rwanda. The guerrilla war and Museveni’s final victory in 1986 constituted an essential turning point in the life of the RANU movement.

However, RANU realised that with part-time volunteers without appropriate training, it could not achieve its objectives. It then decided to do mass mobilisation starting with vulnerable areas, especially refugee camps. It was at the end of this process that RANU changed into RPF-Inkontanyi. After the Museveni victory, the movement headquarters were moved from Nairobi to Kampala.

Beginning of the war and its consequences

With the creation of RPF during RANU’s Congress in December 1987, military preparations were escalated. Movement structures were confirmed. Short, medium and long-term objectives became clear. Orientation and political programs were specified.

They included all Rwandans inside the country and the diaspora, the Hutu, the Tutsi and Twa. The programmes were based on a critical analysis of the Kigali regime and countries in the region, especially those that hosted large Kinyarwanda-speaking and Rwandan communities. The RPF also analysed the experience of other liberation movements around the world. Its knowledge of Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) allowed it to avoid administrative errors. We shall see what transpired across time in the pieces that will follow.