Rwanda/Democratic Republic of Congo: Process by which Congolese nationals of Rwandan origin can obtain Rwandan nationality, including: what family ties are sufficient for entitlement to Rwandan nationality; documentary proof that is required of applicants and whether it is difficult to obtain; duration and costs of the process
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 29 April 2008 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ102740.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Rwanda/Democratic Republic of Congo: Process by which Congolese nationals of Rwandan origin can obtain Rwandan nationality, including: what family ties are sufficient for entitlement to Rwandan nationality; documentary proof that is required of applicants and whether it is difficult to obtain; duration and costs of the process, 29 April 2008, ZZZ102740.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4829b55ac.html [accessed 20 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. |
Existing Legislation on Rwandan Nationality
The Code of Rwandan Nationality of 28 September 1963 provides the basis for determining nationality as amended by the Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code (Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004; New Times 20 June 2006), which entered into force on 3 December 2004 (ibid.; Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004, Art. 40). Correspondence received from the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to Canada states that a nationality law is currently in parliament and that a bill will "soon be passed" to enact it (ibid. 27 Feb. 2008).
The Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code states that:
A Rwandan national is anyone who holds the Rwandan nationality under the provisions of this organic law or whoever acquired it under earlier laws ... (ibid. 3 Dec. 2004, Art. 1).
The Law provides that nationality may be acquired by origin through descent or birth (ibid., Art. 4-8), or acquired by marriage, adoption or naturalization (ibid., Art. 9-18). Nationality by origin is granted to "Any child whose one of his or her parents is a Rwandan" (ibid., Art. 4), but the Law stipulates that parental descent is only effective "where it has been provided for by laws in force in Rwanda" (ibid., Art. 5).
All applicants for nationality by naturalization must be "resident in Rwanda for at least the past five (5) years" and must be at least eighteen years of age (ibid., Art. 15). Applicants must "present a receipt of payment to the Public Treasury of a non-refundable fee" (ibid.) of 80,000 Rwandan francs (RWF) (Rwanda 31 Aug. 2005a), approximately 147.00 Canadian dollars [1 RWF = 0.0001837 CAD (Xe n.d.)]. A chancellery fee of 500,000 RWF (Rwanda 31 Aug. 2005b) is also required when nationality is granted (Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004, Art. 18).
The 1993 Arusha peace accord provides for the acceptance of dual nationality in practice under Article 7 of the Chapter on the "Repatriation and Resettlement of Displaced Persons" (Rwanda 6 Sept. 2001; UK Oct. 2003, Para. 5.6). Dual nationality was recognized by law under the Constitution (Rwanda 4 June 2003, Art. 7; New Times 20 June 2006) and by the Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code (Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004, Art. 2).
The Constitution proclaims that:
Rwandans or their descendants who were deprived of their nationality between 1st November 1959 and 31 December 1994 by reason of acquisition of foreign nationalities automatically reacquire Rwandan nationality if they return to settle in Rwanda (Rwanda 4 June 2003, Art. 7).
Furthermore, the Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code stipulates that:
Every Rwandan having dual nationality is required to declare it before the Immigration and Emigration Services while in Rwanda, or when abroad to the Rwandan Embassy or Consulate in a period not exceeding three (3) months following the coming into force of this organic law to a person who has it at this date, and not exceeding three (3) months from the period he or she acquires another nationality, in case he or she acquires it after this date (Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004, Art. 38).
According to "Title VI: Recovery of Rwandan Nationality" of the Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code and the Constitution, entitlement extends to "all persons originating from Rwanda and their descendants," but a definition of "descendants" in terms of familial relationships is not provided (ibid., Art. 26; Rwanda 4 June 2003, Art. 7). Article 24 of the Law stipulates that an applicant for recovery of status must provide "concrete evidence" of his or her "earlier status as a Rwandan" to the officer in charge of civil status (Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004). The Law does not refer to any required fees for recovery of nationality (ibid., Art. 24-26).
According to the Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code, "[p]roof of one's acquisition or deprivation of Rwandan nationality is indicated by producing the legal deed which led to its acquisition or deprivation," whereas the birth certificate is sufficient proof for nationality of origin (ibid., Art. 27). A Rwandan identity card, passport or temporary movement pass is also acceptable if the information corresponds with that recorded in the registers of civil status (ibid., Art. 30).
The Law states that the Registrar of civil status has authority over the issuance of certificates of nationality "upon request by concerned individuals" (Rwanda 3 Dec. 2004, Art. 28). According to Article 29:
The burden of proof, in Rwandan nationality matters, rests with the person whose nationality is contested. However, this burden shall rest with the contesting person who is doubtful on an individual who possesses a Rwandan identity card, passport or temporary movement pass used as a Rwandan passport or a Rwandan Nationality certificate (ibid.).
Entitlement of Congolese Rwandans to Rwandan Nationality
Migrants from Rwanda have settled in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during periodic waves of migration since the pre-colonial era (GSDRC 2001; International Crisis Group 24 Jan. 2003, 27). Congolese Rwandans are referred to as Banyarwanda, a term that includes both Hutu and Tutsi peoples (CODESRIA 6-10 Dec. 2005, 11-12; HRW Oct. 1997, 9), and are identified by their use of the language Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda (ibid.; UN Feb. 2005, 8). The term Banyarwanda includes the Banyamulenge population (Refugees International 14 Feb. 2005), a term which refers specifically to Congolese Rwandans who are ethnic Tutsis and who settled in Mulenge in South Kivu (ibid.; GSDRC 2001).
In an article published in October 2007, the Kigali newspaper New Times declares that "'all members of the Rwandan Diaspora'" were able to return to Rwanda after July 1994 and "'automatically and unconditionally' regain Rwandan nationality if they wanted to" (New Times 3 Oct. 2007; see also Rwanda 24 Oct. 2005). However, a 2005 Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) document specifies that Banyamulenge people who have lived in the DRC for "generations" can "theoretically" obtain Rwandan nationality (OSJI 1 Feb. 2005, 25), whereas a subsequent British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report refers to an agreement reached between the DRC and Rwanda in November 2007 with a provision for the return of Hutus to Rwanda (BBC News 12 Nov. 2007).
Further information on entitlement to Rwandan nationality of Rwandan Congolese, including information specific to the Banyamulenge and Hutu populations of the Rwandan Diaspora in the DRC, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Required Documentary Proof
Information on the required documentary proof for the acquisition of Rwandan nationality could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response but the following information may be of interest.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), "Kinyarwanda-speakers" whose right to DRC nationality was limited by legislation enacted in 1981 were able to retain their identity cards because the legislation was "not actively enforced" (Oct. 1997, 10). However, a subsequent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs observed that Banyamulenge in particular may have difficulty registering births and marriages due to territorial divisions in the DRC which require people to travel distances of over 100 kilometres for registration services (UN 3 Aug. 2007).
Duration and Costs of the Process
Information on the duration of the application process for obtaining Rwandan nationality and the costs involved other than that found in the Organic Law No 29/2004 on Rwandan Nationality Code could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 12 November 2007. "DR Congo Hutu Plan 'Won't Work'."
Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). 6-10 December 2005. Cassandra R. Veney, Ph.D. "The Role of Refugees in their Host Countries' Development."
Government and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC). 2001. M. Mamdani. Tutsi Power in Rwanda and the Citizenship Crisis in Eastern Congo (Summary).
Human Rights Watch (HRW). October 1997. Democratic Republic of the Congo: What Kabila is Hiding – Civilian Killings and Impunity in Congo.
International Crisis Group. 24 January 2003. The Kivus: The Forgotten Crucible of the Congo Conflict.
New Times [Kigali]. 3 October 2007. "From Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Everywhere to Rwanda."
_____. 20 June 2006. Godfrey Kamukunde. "Understanding Rwandan Nationality." (AllAfrica)
Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI). 1 February 2005. Julia Harrington. "Voiding Human Rights: Citizenship and Discrimination in Africa."
Refugees International. 14 February 2005. " No Country to Call Home: The Scope of Statelessness." Lives on Hold: The Scope of Statelessness.
Rwanda. 27 February 2008. Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to Canada. Correspondence from official.
_____. 24 October 2005. Rwanda Embassy in Ottawa. Telephone interview with the senior advisor.
_____. 31 August 2005a. Ministerial Order No. 75/11 of 3 /08/2005 Determining Naturalisation Fees.
_____. 31 August 2005b. Ministerial Order No. 76/11 of 31/08/2005 Determining the Chancellery Fees Relating to Naturalisation.
_____. 3 December 2004. Organic Law No. 29/2004 of 03/12/2004 on Rwandan Nationaliaty Code.
_____. 4 June 2003. Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda and Its Amendments of 2 December 2003 and of 8 December 2005. (Refworld)
United Kingdom (UK). October 2003. Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). Home Office. Rwanda: Country Assessment.
United Nations (UN). 3 August 2007. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). "DRC: Banyamulenge Seeking Political Solution to Tensions."
_____. February 2005. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). Constantin Sokoloff. "Denial of Citizenship: A Challenge to Human Security."
Xe.com. N.d. "Universal Currency Converter."
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: The UNHCR in Rwanda and the Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative (CRAI) did not respond to requests for information within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sources, including: AfricaFiles.org, AllAfrica, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Internet Law Library, Jeune Afrique, Le Monde, Newsgena, République Démocratique du Congo, Réseau documentaire international sur les régions des Grands Lacs Africains, United States Office of Personnel Management, Xinhua News Agency.
