Founded in exile, 12 December 2010
A movement born from rupture — when senior figures inside Rwanda's own establishment broke with the government they had helped build.
Read moreBefore 2010
The Rwanda National Congress (RNC) is a Rwandan opposition movement formed largely by Rwandans living in exile. It emerged in December 2010 following a major political rupture between President Paul Kagame's government and several former senior officials of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and post-1994 Rwandan state.
12 December 2010 · Bethesda, Maryland
The RNC was formally established on 12 December 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland, presenting itself as a broad movement seeking peaceful and democratic political change.
Its significance
Its significance stems partly from the backgrounds of its founders. Several had previously held senior positions in Rwanda's military, intelligence, judicial and political institutions.
Their break with Kagame represented a significant challenge from within the political establishment that had governed Rwanda since 1994.
Join the movement working for peaceful, democratic change in Rwanda.
