Rwanda: Information on whether Rwanda allows dual citizenship with France and, if Rwanda does not allow dual citizenship with France, on whether holding of French citizenship automatically causes a loss of Rwandan citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RWA19999.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Rwanda: Information on whether Rwanda allows dual citizenship with France and, if Rwanda does not allow dual citizenship with France, on whether holding of French citizenship automatically causes a loss of Rwandan citizenship, 1 March 1995, RWA19999.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab1f4c.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
An Official at the Embassy of Rwanda in Ottawa stated that up to the 4 August 1994 peace accord signed in Arusha, Tanzania, by the Republic of Rwanda and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR), Rwanda did not allow dual citizenship with France or with any other country (17 Mar. 1995).
The official stated that the attached article 7 of the protocol of agreement between the government of the Republic of Rwanda and the FPR signed on 9 June 1993 in Arusha, which is incorporated as an appendix to the Arusha peace accord, stipulates that the principle of dual nationality is admitted by both parties to the accord and that the citizenship law of Rwanda will be revised accordingly (ibid.). The 9 June 1993 protocol covers the repatriation of Rwandan refugees and the resettlement of displaced persons (ibid.).
The official also stated that the principle of dual citizenship was introduced in the Arusha peace accord. This was done to allow former Rwandan citizens to recover their original citizenship after obtaining a foreign citizenship and thereby losing their Rwandan citizenship under the citizenship law of Rwanda. Furthermore, this principle would allow Rwandans to recover their original Rwandan citizenship even if they have obtained citizenship of a country which does not recognize dual citizenship, and if they were required to renounce their Rwandan citizenship by their country of adoption in order to obtain their new citizenship, to recover their original Rwandan citizenship (ibid.). This principle was also adopted in order to ensure that Rwandans will not become stateless or be forced by circumstances to accept a foreign nationality (ibid.). The official indicated that the parliament of Rwanda has yet to pass legislation in order to implement dual citizenship in Rwanda.
According to the official, the attached article 3 of the Arusha peace accord stipulates that the 10 June 1991 constitution and the Arusha peace accord will constitute the fundamental law of Rwanda during the five-year transition period for the implementation of the accord. The official also stated that articles of the constitution quoted in paragraph 1 of article 3 have been replaced by the provisions of the Arusha peace accord and that the Arusha peace accord will prevail in cases where other articles of the constitution conflict. Article 4 of the Arusha peace accord stipulates that the fundamental law will also prevail over other existing laws and regulations (ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, Ottawa. 17 March 1995. Telephone interview with official.
Attachment
Rwanda. 4 August 1994. Accord de paix d'Arusha entre le gouvernement de la République rwandaise et le Front patriotique rwandais, pp. 1268-69, 1327.
