Democratic Green Party of Rwanda

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR; French: Parti vert démocratique du Rwanda, PVDR; Kinyarwanda: Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije, IRDKI) is a green political party in Rwanda, established in 2009. The party was registered in August 2013, but too late to contest the 2013 parliamentary elections. Its platform emphasizes unity, non-violence, social justice, participatory democracy, and calls for subsidized prices for agricultural produce. It believes that the unalienable rights of the people include "the right to life, liberty, peaceful assembly, expression, worship and the pursuit of happiness", and that these rights are granted by God.[2]

Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
French nameParti vert démocratique du Rwanda
Kinyarwanda nameIshyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije
PresidentFrank Habineza
Founded14 August 2009 (2009-08-14)
Membership500,000 (claimed)[1]
IdeologyGreen politics
Green liberalism
Liberal democracy
Political positionCentre to centre-left
Regional affiliationFederation of Green Parties of Africa
International affiliationGlobal Greens
Chamber of Deputies
2 / 80
Website
www.rwandagreendemocrats.org

History

The party was established on 14 August 2009, and aimed to contest the 2010 presidential elections. However, it was prevented from registering.[3] The party's vice-president, André Kagwa Rwisereka, was found beheaded during the election campaign.[4][5] Green Party leaders in the US called on the Obama Administration to support an investigation into his murder and the allegations that it was politically motivated. President Paul Kagame and his ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RFP) has close ties to the US.[6]

The party was finally registered in August 2013, but too late to contest the 2013 parliamentary elections.[7]

On 17 December 2016, Frank Habineza was nominated as the party leader and flag bearer for the 2017 presidential elections. By doing this the party abandoned its earlier threat to boycott the election after its demands for electoral reforms were snubbed by the government.[8] Habineza went on to finish third of the three candidates with just 0.5% of the vote. However, in the parliamentary elections the following year the party entered parliament after winning two seats.

References
  1. "Rwanda's only registered opposition party picks candidate to face Kagame". Africa News.
  2. "National Political Platform". Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  3. Wadhams, Nick (2010-05-05). "Rwanda: Anti-Genocide Law Clashes with Free Speech". Time. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  4. "Deadly attacks on Rwandan opposition spark warning by UN", The Guardian, July 18, 2010
  5. "Violence rises in Rwanda as election nears", Associated Press, June 28, 2010
  6. "US Green Party condemns assassination of Rwandan Green Party leader". Green Party Watch. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  7. Tom Lansford (2015) Political Handbook of the World 2015, CQ Press
  8. "News about Democratic Green Party of Rwanda". The Global Greens. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
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