Post Conflict Reconstruction in Rwanda (Research Paper Sample)

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Post Conflict Reconstruction in Rwanda
Introduction
Rwanda as a nation underwent one of the most vicious and intense conflicts that the 20th century has witnessed. The genocide that took place in the year 1994 between the Hutus and the Tutsis saw the demise of almost one million individuals. However, since then, the nation has attained plenty of success in terms of reconstruction, reconciliation and development once the conflict came to an end. In the present day, Rwanda has made substantial and considerable strides not just politically but also socially and more so economically. These advancements have been made with the attempt to preclude another atrocity similar to the 1994 genocide. Having gone through this outrage, it is the responsibility of the survivors to progress from the sufferings and ordeals of the past and this new generation is expected to discontinue the sequence of persecution and abuse and construct a steady basis. It can be said still that majority of the citizens who went through this great ordeal continue to experience psychological agonies and miseries and hard life circumstances which prevent them from moving on and making the most of their potential.
What has Rwanda achieved economically in its post-conflict reconstruction?
Economic stability and progression has been attained through different ways. Some of the outstanding ones include a shift from an agricultural centered economy to an industrial one that is dependent on knowledge-based service. This in turn made Rwanda to stop being a low-income country that is only dependent on agriculture. Industrialization boosted the economy of Rwanda. Secondly there is aid from the international community. Global institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund through aid helped the country. Financial aid from the international community helped Rwanda to have the capital to work on its economy. Lastly there is the fact that the government of Rwanda sought to reconstruct and rebuild numerous of its institutions, which brought about a lot of economic advancements and progressions to the nation.
One aspect in particular in terms of post conflict reconstruction in which the nation has made great strides is the development and stability of the economy. After the conflict had culminated, Rwanda made moves and great strides in rehabilitating its distraught and shattered infrastructure sector, employment levels to boost and sustain its economy in general. The nation set out on an aspiring and determined development strategy in the hunt for transforming the nation from a low-income economy that is dependent on agriculture to an economy that is industrial and dependent on knowledge-based service. In 2013, 19 years after the genocide, Rwanda was enumerated as the 9th fastest growing and developing economy in the whole world with a nearly estimated eight percent Gross Domestic product (The Economist). According to Cristafulli and Redmond, Rwanda has positioned itself on a course or path in the direction of greater autonomy and self-financing. This is for the reason that the company ranked fifty two out of 185 nations on the easiness of being able to do business and at the same ranking was placed eighth on the easiness of being able to initiate or start a business. Other aspects include welfare, safety, zero lenience for corruption, and a specified objective to eradicate foreign aid which presently makes up forty percent of its annual budget (Cristafulli and Redmond paragraph 3). The economic success and progress of Rwanda would not have been conceivable devoid of the impudent and innovative way of thinking of its contemporary leaders to espouse fitting measures that make certain that there would be no more bloodshed as a result of ethnic animosities. This paper will seek to make an analysis of the different factors concerning economic post-war reconstruction that Rwanda had had to go through and the extents in which they can improve and develop in the forthcoming years.
Post-Conflict Economic Peace Building
One of the most significant and imperative requisites that the government of Rwanda had to consider in its post-conflict reconstruction is comprehensive and widely centered economic development. In actual fact, the subject matters of amity and reconciliation or appeasement continue to resonate in the minds of several Rwandans in the lack or deficiency of economic prospects. Social accord and coherence in the nation necessitates enhancements and developments in substantial welfare. A wide-ranging approach for peace-building should be created by benefactors, the administration, opposition political parties, and also nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for the whole region. Better investment in dynamic infrastructure and actions is required to enlarge the process and produce the income essential for sustainable social development (Colomba 8).
The admittance and inclusion of Rwanda into the East African Community which is an instrument for mutual assistance in the East African region was a great and substantial stride towards the economic development of the nation and its economic collaboration with other nations neighboring it (Colomba 10). One of the issues that have been perceived and raised with regards to post war reconstruction in the nation of Rwanda is the number of acuities and opinions overflowing that the government of Rwanda time and again undertakes discrimination in the favor of the Tutsis against the Hutu people in several areas. However, in as much as there has been proof to contradict these perspectives, many stories and narrations provide backing for these allegations and this is an issue that has to be taken very serious by the Rwandese government.
This is for the reason that, economic wise, it constricts development in numerous ways. To begin with, it implies that businesses owned by the Hutus cannot thrive and prosper as a result of discrimination. This also covers areas such as education where they can easily be restricted from attaining student scholarships and also perhaps admission to institutions of higher education. In addition, when it comes to the employment sector, hindrance to getting elite job prospects is a concern that is raised with this regard. Bearing this in mind, it can be declared that it would be very difficult for the economy of the country as a whole to grow and develop with such imperialism taking place. With the government targeting to transform the economy of Rwanda into a knowledge based economy, it cannot be achieved with one community only but by the cooperation and working together of the Hutus and the Tutsis.
Governance
The level of governance within the nation has improved and developed in a general manner. This can be evidenced by the indicators for governance in the nation’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA). By making a consideration of all the forty five countries in Africa in the South of the Sahara, seventy two percent of then had a tally lower than that of Rwanda, eighteen percent outscored Rwanda while the rest ten percent had a score that was even to that of Rwanda. It is imperative to note that in the decade leading up to the year 2008, Rwanda has been acknowledged for its fight and great leadership in the battle against corruption. According to statistics, the country is presently positioned above sixty percent of all the nations in the world with regards to the control and minimization of corruption. There has also been augmentation and advancement on its record on 4 out of six indicators that are examined and scrutinized by the World Bank which are effectiveness of the government, quality in levels of regulation, political stability and also the rule of law.
However, the country is not efficient or effective in all areas as there are a number of sectors and aspects that bring concern in the economic reconstruction of the company. To begin with, Rwanda did not attain substantial advancement in the sector of expression and also accountability or culpability. Economic freedom implies economic autonomy which the country is in pursuit of. However, this comes hand in hand with the voice of the people, be it negative or positive. The voice of the people is considered to be the watchdog in the activities undertaken by the government and therefore the inability for the people to speak freely in order to hold the government accountable for its actions is a great drawback in the development of the nation. It can be well argued that the government of Rwanda has so far managed the transitional process after the genocide particularly in espousing democracy. In as much as there has been effort and determination to attain better and more superior ethnic equality and uniformity in the cabinet and amongst monitors in the form of provincial authorities, the government has been profoundly critiqued for the restriction of the ruling group and the quietening of particular expressions and declarations of opposition or disagreement. The challenge for the Rwandese administration is to upsurge and intensify expressive Hutu involvement while sustaining safety for Tutsi populaces. However, consensual donors are working hand in hand with the government of Rwanda so as to form and generate more open political exchange of ideas and communication. The nation is also following a motivated and determined devolution program to empower the local communities and make certain of the rise in transparency and culpability.
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Another element that has aided the economic growth of Rwanda in its post-war reconstruction is the extensive advancement towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals. Rwanda has attained remarkable and extraordinary results in the socioeconomic sectors. For example, to start with, by the year 2010, the nation had attained ninety five percent i...