Rwanda has granted citizenship to 1,500 foreign nationals since the rollout of its naturalization program, the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration has announced.
Jean Damascène Rusanganwa, director of citizen services at the institution, disclosed that the latest batch comprises 101 newly naturalized citizens.
Of these, 80 received their citizenship within various districts across the country, while 21 were granted nationality through foreign embassies accredited to Rwanda.
Rusanganwa underscored that once granted citizenship, individuals acquire full status as Rwandan nationals, with equal rights and responsibilities as citizens by origin.
“After taking the oath, they are required to abide by the Constitution and all other laws of Rwanda, just like any other Rwandan,” he said.
New citizens swear an oath of allegiance, pledging loyalty to the Republic of Rwanda, respect for the Constitution and national laws, patriotism, integrity, and adherence to Rwandan values.
The Organic Law of July 16, 2021, which governs Rwandan nationality and replaced the 2008 legislation, provides various pathways for foreigners to acquire citizenship. These include investment, possession of exceptional skills needed in the country, national interest, honor, and other legally recognized grounds.
Naturalized citizens enjoy the same rights and obligations as Rwandans by birth, unless otherwise provided by law.
Grounds for acquiring Rwandan nationality include birth on Rwandan territory, foundlings, marriage, adoption, national interest, distinguished expertise or talent, large and sustainable investment, lawful residence, refugee status, and statelessness.
However, the law provides that naturalized citizenship may be revoked if it was obtained through false information or forged documents, if marriage was contracted solely to acquire nationality without genuine intent to form a family, or if citizenship was sought with the intention of undermining the Republic of Rwanda.
Rusanganwa noted that, to date, no individual has been stripped of Rwandan citizenship.
The law also safeguards against statelessness, stipulating that citizenship cannot be revoked if doing so would leave the individual without any nationality.
