A 33-page report titled “Démilitariser le Rwanda: À l’exemple du Costa Rica” (“Demilitarizing Rwanda: The Example of Costa Rica”), authored by former Rwandan Minister of Defence Dr. James K. Gasana and Dr. Nkiko Nsengimana, has sparked debate over Rwanda’s long-term security strategy and the future role of its military.
The report, which is said to have been addressed to President Paul Kagame, proposes that Rwanda should reconsider how it builds lasting national security. Rather than relying primarily on military strength, the authors argue that long-term stability should be based on good governance, the rule of law, economic development, and strong civilian institutions.
The authors stress that they are not calling for the immediate dissolution of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). Instead, they advocate for a gradual transition inspired by Costa Rica, which abolished its military in 1948 and redirected resources toward education, healthcare, and strengthening state institutions.
Gasana and Nkiko argue that Rwanda has made significant progress since the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including rebuilding state institutions, restoring security, and achieving economic growth. However, they contend that the country’s post-genocide security model should now be reassessed to determine its long-term direction.
In an interview with Radio Agasaro, Dr. Gasana and Dr. Nkiko said their report argues that sustainable security cannot depend solely on military power. Instead, they say it should be supported by strong civilian institutions, an independent judiciary, economic opportunities, and governance that is accountable to citizens.
Despite these arguments, the report has received mixed reactions, largely because of the backgrounds of its authors. Dr. James K. Gasana served as Rwanda’s Minister of Defence under former President Juvénal Habyarimana before leaving Rwanda in 1993 after falling out with the MRND government.
Dr. Nkiko Nsengimana has lived outside Rwanda for many years and has been associated with discussions and writings critical of Rwanda’s political system. He is also described as one of the founders of the FDU-Inkingi party alongside Victoire Ingabire. The article further alleges that the party is linked to the RUD-Urunana rebel group, which reportedly carried out an attack in Kinigi in 2020 that killed several civilians.
Political observers quoted in the article argue that the two authors no longer have sufficient firsthand knowledge of present-day Rwanda for their recommendations to serve as a reliable basis for national policy. They note that Dr. Gasana has been away from Rwanda for more than 34 years, while they also criticize Dr. Nkiko, alleging that he does not have Rwanda’s best interests at heart because of his reported links to FDU-Inkingi, whose fighters are said to operate from forests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Other analysts reject the proposal to significantly reduce the role of the RDF, arguing that Rwanda’s security environment is fundamentally different from that of Costa Rica.
They point out that Rwanda is located in the Great Lakes region, which has experienced decades of armed conflict and the presence of numerous armed groups.
They further argue that the RDF has played a central role in maintaining Rwanda’s security and has contributed to international peacekeeping missions, including United Nations operations in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, as well as humanitarian missions in other countries.
According to these analysts, Rwanda’s investment in national security has helped make it one of the safest countries in the region, creating conditions that have supported economic growth and attracted foreign investment.
Another major concern they raise is the ongoing insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rwandan government has consistently maintained that the FDLR armed group operating in the region continue.
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