Rwanda’s Radical Transformation Since the End of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi

This book discusses the radical transformation of Rwanda, focusing on the dynamics of its society before and after the genocide against theTutsis in 1994. Through contextualizing the significant changes experienced by the country, it throws searchlights on a number of other African states facing similar challenges. The author analyses Rwanda's challenges of nationhood after the genocide; the vision and will of the country’s leadership; its social programs and strategies for cohesion and national development; the population’s resilience; and its growing regional influence in the twenty-first century. Rwandan society is here considered not only through the lens of existing literature on African politics, but also through direct engagement and fieldwork with local populations, scholars and policymakers. In addition, the book weighs in on narratives of survivors and victims of the genocide to understand and present local dispositions to current realities such as reforms, development plans,inclusive policies and programs, and determine how Rwandans deal with historical identity issues and conflicts. This book will be of interest to students, scholars and researchers interested in Rwandan and African politics, peace and conflict studies, security (strategic) studies, and genocide studies.

“The book is brilliantly written, in a simple, easily readable style. The volume offers a pertinent and fascinating analysis of the key post-genocide peacebuilding actors, approaches and themes in Rwanda. As such, the author provides an extremely valuable contribution to the work of peacebuilding in other violence and war-torn countries around the world.” (Aggée Shyaka Mugabe (PhD), Director, Center for Conflict Management (CCM), University of Rwanda.)

“My esteemed colleague's innovative work blends classical social science methods with personal reflections, resulting in a vivid prose that is inspired by both strong feelings and a genuine scholarly quest robustly anchored on an intellectual service provided to students in Rwanda. Thanks to this book, readers from diverse horizons will get a better understanding of the reason why this country, deeply affected by a genocide of huge proportion in 1994, was able to recover so rapidly. The book suggests that the country’s resilienceand strength can be attributed to, among other things, a strong leadership embodied by a president who may not be that popular among some western democrats, but who undeniably has offered an appropriate and effective response during a dire situation. The example of Rwanda could potentially inspire many countries in Africa and elsewhere grappling with challenges similar to Rwanda’s.” (Xavier Moyet (PhD), University of Kent, United Kingdom; former Director of the Institut Francais de Recherche en Afrique (IFRA), University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and Coordinator of Religion and Urbanization in Africa (RUA) Project between the Universities of Kent, United Kingdom)

“I have read a plethora of publications on Rwanda. This one, done by Prof. Sheriff Folarin, is different in terms of the motivation, contents, methods and contributions to knowledge. The author visited Rwanda on several occasions and multitasked on each of the occasions. In addition to attending to his original assignment during each visit, Sheriff denied himself the leisure of savoring the lovely environment by engaging in the fieldworks leading to the present publication. My first lesson from this is that you do not need a fat research grant to do a good academic work. What matters most is your capacity to see a research opportunity and take full advantage of it. Reading the writing, one is fascinated by the ability of the author to bring events and scenarios in mission fields closer to the imagination of a third party (the reader). The fluidity of language, blend of tough scholarly language with simple literary genius, and the mix of secondary data and eyewitness accounts, are quite commendable. This, definitely, is one of the finest pieces I have read on post-genocide Rwanda. It is a major contribution to the field of peacebuilding and strategic studies.” (Isaac Olawale Albert, Professor of African history, peace and conflict studies; former Director of the Institute of African Studies and Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies; and Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan; as well as the founding Director, Center for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Nigeria)

“One of the exciting and incisive reads on revolutionary trends in the African public space. This is by far, the most recent of such stories about radical transformations initiated, spearheaded and executed by Africans in Africa. The book presents spectacular details of the exploits of the political leadership of Paul Kagame and the people’s resilience that have prevailed even in times of deliberate external invalidation. When the author began this study, I knew that it was a promising venture, but did not suspect that it would turn out different from others and be as detailed, multi-pronged in delivery and creative as this. The book is highly recommended to all students of politics, governance and public policy in Africa” (Ola-Rotimi Ajayi, Professor of Political Science, Federal University Lokoja, and former Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Omuaran, Nigeria)

“Professor Sheriff Folarin has brought to bear his deep analytical skills in crafting this exhilarating narrative of the emergence of a modern society in Africa, out of the ashes of genocide. The focus is on the force of leadership in creating the ambience for reconciliation, renewal and revival, evident in the Rwandan miracle. I congratulate my long-standing colleague for this excellent historical account and political treatise that carries the rhythm of literary creativity.” (Charles Ogbulogo, Professor of Languages and Dean, College of Leadership Development Studies, and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Nigeria)

“This piece takes the beautiful message of Sheriff Folarin’s about Africa’s huge potentials for a turnaround to the world. Using Rwanda’s transformation journey as an example, it underscores hope and possibility of a transformable African society. He writes that Rwanda, a developing country with a bad past transformed itself to one with a remarkable progress, thus demonstrating the power of peace, unity, hope, resilience, and leadership dynamics in building a sustainable progressive society. It’s a great contribution to the knowledge about contemporary Rwanda’s journey in building peace, enhancing security and prosperity. This is a commendable endeavor, which, despite his foreign sojourns, shows the author’s strong connections to his motherland Africa and Rwanda in particular.” (John Peter Mugume (PhD), Center for Conflict Management, University of Rwanda)

“In a powerful blend of creative narration and intellectual savviness, Sheriff Folarin takes readers through a (re)discovery of Rwanda from the lens of an ‘outsider’ who has had the opportunity to interact at different levels within the country. Reading through the pages, it is easy to see the author’s profound love for Rwanda and passion to tell the world of the remarkable journey of transformation that’s being perfected since the genocide based on his personal experience and encounters. I have no doubt that the book will surely stimulate the interest of anyone looking for an objective assessment of the post-genocide history of Rwanda and its path towards progress, prosperity, and stability that’s now become a template for many African countries to follow. The book’s unique storytelling approach makes it accessible not only to scholars but relatable for ordinary persons who are truly looking to connect the dots of Rwanda’s history with its post-war experience to gain a complete understanding of its path to greatness. A great strength of the book is the conceptual and empirical justification for an African variant of democracy that is exemplified in Kagame’s Rwanda, which is a model for African states.” (Olusola Ogunnubi (PhD), Department of Political Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada; and former Research Fellow, Center for Gender andAfrican Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa)

“I saw bodies flowing across from Rwanda to my native Uganda during those dark days of genocide against the Tusti in Rwanda. What is undeniable is the resilience of a people who are rising from the ashes to making a global mark in only few decades. This book by Sheriff F. Folarin does a good job at helping to change the negative narrative not only about Rwanda but really, probably indirectly, about Africa.  Against many odds – landlocked, small, in a conflict-ridden region, and starting from a horrific genocide – surely the progress Rwanda is making is remarkable. It is evident that seeds of sustainability will be needed to keep this a glowing story for future generations.” (Ronald David Kayanja, Director, United Nations Information Center in Nigeria)

Sheriff F. Folarin is a Professor of International Relations and visiting scholar at the Department of Political Science, Texas State University, USA; and at the Center for Conflict Management, University of Rwanda, Rwanda.