The Noise of Silence: How Suppression of Free Expression Threatens the Fragile Peace in Post-Genocide Rwanda

The argument is made here that Rwanda faces the serious risk of another violent conflict if the flaws of the transition are not corrected to bring about a toleration of dissent and criticism on the part of government. It also entails the removal of the country’s media instruments from the control and manipulation of the state. Correcting the flaws of the transitional process should begin with the international community shedding the guilt of its failure to prevent the genocide, demanding the regime’s commitment to greater respect for fundamental civil and political rights (including freedom of expression and press freedom) in return for economic support. It also requires an end to the rather condescending notion that Rwandan’s deserve nothing better than an authoritarian government which secures peace and keeps the economy on the right footing by use of, among other things, draconian laws against the media and free expression.