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CIVIL CONFLICT IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION: THE ISSUE OF NATIONALITY OF THE BANYARWANDA IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

CIVIL CONFLICT IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION: THE ISSUE OF NATIONALITY OF THE BANYARWANDA IN THE... I. INTRODUCTION The question of nationality of the populations of Rwandan origin living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire)1 or Banyarwanda2 is one of the key factors which triggered the rebellion led by the Alliance of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo/Zaire (hereinafter The Alliance). This rebellion, which was launched in October 1996 from the South Kivu Province (in eastern Congo) and led by Laurent-D6sir6 Kabila, ended the 32 year-long dictatorship of President Mobutu Sese Seko and reestablished the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).3 The question of whether or not Banyarwanda can claim Zairian (Congolese) citizenship on the ground of having lived in Zaire (Congo) for generations lies deep in the history of the ethnic conflicts between them and the indigenous Congolese in the eastern parts of the country since its independence in 1960. The incoherent and confusing legislation governing this question inspired and enforced by President Mobutu's administration since the 1970s as well as the arbitrary decisions and ill-advised policies of the regime helped exacerbate the tensions in those parts of the country. It is an irony that Mobutu's downfall resulted in part from the impact of an issue that he http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png African Yearbook of International Law Online Brill

CIVIL CONFLICT IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION: THE ISSUE OF NATIONALITY OF THE BANYARWANDA IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

African Yearbook of International Law Online , Volume 5 (1): 14 – Jan 1, 1997
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
eISSN
2211-6176
DOI
10.1163/221161797X00031
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Abstract

I. INTRODUCTION The question of nationality of the populations of Rwandan origin living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire)1 or Banyarwanda2 is one of the key factors which triggered the rebellion led by the Alliance of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo/Zaire (hereinafter The Alliance). This rebellion, which was launched in October 1996 from the South Kivu Province (in eastern Congo) and led by Laurent-D6sir6 Kabila, ended the 32 year-long dictatorship of President Mobutu Sese Seko and reestablished the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).3 The question of whether or not Banyarwanda can claim Zairian (Congolese) citizenship on the ground of having lived in Zaire (Congo) for generations lies deep in the history of the ethnic conflicts between them and the indigenous Congolese in the eastern parts of the country since its independence in 1960. The incoherent and confusing legislation governing this question inspired and enforced by President Mobutu's administration since the 1970s as well as the arbitrary decisions and ill-advised policies of the regime helped exacerbate the tensions in those parts of the country. It is an irony that Mobutu's downfall resulted in part from the impact of an issue that he

Journal

African Yearbook of International Law Online – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1997

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