Rwanda: “My Dictatorship Is Better Than Yours” Falsehood Perpetuates Cut/Copy-and-Paste Tribal Dictatorships

The term “cut/copy-and-paste” means copying as opposed to creating something new. This is a perfect description of post-independence Rwandan dictatorships, whatever their tribal affiliations. From violence against sections of the population, exporting refugees, changing the constitution to cling to power, winning elections by 99%-100%, murdering their predecessors, stealing foreign aid, to impoverishing the people of Rwanda, the dictators, whether Hutu or Tutsi, became masters of cut/copy-and-paste. Yet, their tribal followers cling to the falsehood that “my dictator is better than yours.” It is time for Rwandans uninfluenced by this deception to step forward and robustly advocate for a Rwanda free from tribal dictatorships.

Rwandan dictators are essentially the same, no matter what tribal labels they use to describe their regimes. Here are indisputable facts on how the Rwandan dictators cut/copy-and-paste the same self-aggrandizing and violent politics that end in disasters not only for them but for the country.

In 1995-2021, thousands of Rwandan Hutu refugees languished and still languish in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. This is a replay of the earlier years when the reverse happened.

In 1959–1995, thousands of Rwandan Tutsi refugees languished in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. The Hutu regimes rejected any notion of the return of the refugees, claiming that the country was “too small.”

In 1962–1994, Hutu dictators used to win elections by 99%-100%.

In 1962–1994, Hutu dictators changed the constitution to hang onto power.

In 2003–2017, the Tutsi dictator won elections by 95%-100%.

In 2003–217, the Tutsi dictator changed the constitution to grab in power.

In 1973, a Hutu dictator overthrew another Hutu dictator, murdered the entire Hutu government and starved to death the father of the Hutu revolution.

In 1962–2021, the Hutu and Tutsi dictators weaponized the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to the detriment of Tutsi and Hutu communities.

In 1994, a Hutu dictator lost power the same way he came to power – violently – shot down from the skies by a new dictator – this time Tutsi. This opened the gates for the genocide against the Tutsi and the still-to-be investigated deaths of Hutu who did not support the genocide.

In 1996–2003, the armies of the Tutsi dictator massacred massive numbers of Hutu refugees in DRC Congo described by the UN Mapping Report as a possible genocide that needs to be investigated.

In 1994 – 2021, the Tutsi dictator spared no group from violence – both Hutu and Tutsi are his victims, including the Rwandans assassinated in foreign countries.

In 1990–2010, Hutu and Tutsi dictators stole US$190 million from foreign aid and stashed the money in foreign offshore accounts.

In 1962–2021, Rwandans remained among the world’s poorest. It made no difference, whether the dictator in power was a Hutu or Tutsi.

The German philosopher Georg Hegel famously stated that “the only thing that we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.” This is a perfect description of Rwandan history where history keeps repeating itself but yet Rwandans refuse to read the history. It is time to end this vicious cycle embedded in “my dictatorship is better than yours.” Rwandans uninfluenced by this deception must step forward and robustly advocate for a Rwanda free from tribal dictatorships.