In the framework of the monthly Research Seminar series organised by the Center for Conflict Management (CCM) /UR, a joint seminar was held on the 15th July 2020 at Gikondo Campus. The research seminar was attended by academic staff from CCM, the School of Governance (College of Arts and Social Sciences/ UR), the College of Education (CE) and CCM Masters students were.
Two presentations were done, namely:
- UWINEZA Marie Rosine (CCM based assistant researcher)
- YANKRA Elly Musafiri (CCM based researcher and a PhD student at the University of Nairobi)
The first Presentation was made by Uwineza Marie Rosine on “Land Use Conflicts in Urban and Peri-urban Areas: Impact on the Native (Kavukire) People Livelihood in Post -Genocide Rwanda”. The researcher indicated that since 1994, Rwandan urban areas have attracted a significant population from rural areas, a phenomenon that has escalated the nature of land conflicts in Rwanda. She highlighted that in addressing this problem, the government has passed a set of policies, laws and reforms on land use. However, in spite of such measures, land use conflicts in Rwanda have taken a new twist in urban areas due to the increase of population followed by informal settlement, increase of landless people and poverty. All these factors generated self-misplacement and unlawful settlement conducive to land conflicts which cause unconformity to new land policies established by Government.
The second presenter, Mr. Elly Musafiri addressed the "The role of civil society in the citizens' transformation process in post genocide Rwanda". He highlighted how some civil society organizations engaged in hatred and identity politics, which led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He also talked about conceptualization of civil society in societal development from the antiquity, enlightenment, contemporary and modern periods. In the post genocide period, he mentioned how civil society started their activities in cooperation with the government in state building and in the on-going conflict transformation process. The presentation covered other aspects of activities of transformation process undertaken by these organizations which include building capacity of citizens through income generation activities, sport for peace, peace education programs and mind set change through trainings and workshops.
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