The process of registering new political parties has been made easier following the promulgation of a new law governing political parties in the country.

The Minister for Local Government, James Musoni, said the requirement of cabinet approval will no longer be part of the process.

Instead, parties that fulfil the requirements will secure their final licence, allowing them to start their operations from the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).

The development was announced by Musoni during a brief event of handing over the political parties’ docket to RGB.

"The reason behind this initiative is to separate policy from operations. Ministry of Local Government now remains responsible for policies, while the implementation and operations go to other entities such as RGB that is now the caretaker of political parties,” said Musoni.

The ministry’s legal advisor, Oswald Burasanzwe, said aspiring political parties are expected to submit a request letter, three certified copies of; the statutes governing the political party, minutes of the general assembly that established the political party, and internal rules and regulations of the political organisation.

The minutes of the assembly can only be certified by a public notary after proof that the party had at least five representatives from each of the 30 districts.

Also, the legal representative of the political party is required to produce certificates of identification, residence and criminal record.

As part of the new regulations, a political party registered shall, within a period not exceeding one month after its final registration, inform the authority in charge of the registration of political parties, of the location of its offices.

Meanwhile, Minister Musoni said following the enactment of the new law, all the existing political parties are supposed to align their internal rules and regulations as well as their statute with the new law and submit the stated documents to RGB.

Currently, there are 10 registered political parties in the country. 

"Since the law was enacted on July 12, the deadline for submitting those documents is August 13. Any party that decided not to do so within the required time will be considered non-functional,” he said.

Assuming the new responsibilities, Prof. Anastase Shyaka, the RGB chief executive, said unlike in many countries where registration of new political parties has to go through the cabinet, Rwanda opted to ease the process as part of corporate governance and timely service delivery.