In this article, the author demonstrates that contrary to the general belief, the law n° 22/99 of 12/11/1999 on inheritance (the first law on inheritance in Rwanda)1 did not create a new inheritance right for women. It rather explicitly formalized a pre-existing right that since the 1956 decision of King Mutara Rudahigwa in the Rwubusisi case, guarantees children and widows to inherit irrespective of their gender. Women’s right to inheritance draws its genesis from the constitutional principle of equality and equal protection of the law and the constitutional recognition of the only custom practices that are not repugnant to written law, morality, and justice. It also originates from a number of international legal instruments such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICCPR)2, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)3, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPRs)4 , etc. These international instruments ratified by Rwanda are other important genuine sources of the women’s right to inheritance since, upon ratification, Rwanda had an international obligation to eradicate custom practices that discriminated against women.

Even though the emphasis is put on the existence of women inheritance right long ago before the first law on succession in Rwanda, it is argued that the right to inheritance of the women whose succession opened before the first law on succession in Rwanda should be enforced within the respect of the droits acquis in order to safeguard the social stability.

LEGISLATION

Domestic instruments

1.                              Constitution of June 10th 2003as revised in 2015, Official Gazette n° Special of December 24th, 2015.

2.                              Constitution of June 10th, 2003, Official Gazette no Special of June 04th, 2003.

3.                              Constitution de la République Rwandaise du 30 Mai 1991, Journal official No. Spécial du 10 Juin 1991.

4.                              Constitution de la République Rwandaise du 20 Decembre 1978, Journal official n° 24 bis du 20 Décembre 1978.

5.                              Constitution de la République Rwandaise du 24 Novembre 1962, Journal Officiel de la  République Rwandaise, 1e année, n° 22 bis, 1er décembre 1962.

6.                              Law Nº 27/2016 of 08/07/2016 governing matrimonial regimes, donations,and successions, Official Gazette n° August 31st, 2016.

7.                              Law n° 22/99 of 12/11/1999 to supplement book I of the civil code and to institute part five regarding matrimonial regimes, liberalities, and successions, Official Gazette n° November 22nd November 13th, 1999.

8.                              Civil Code Law No. 42/1988 instituting the Preliminary Title and First    Book of the Civil Code, October 27th, 1988, Official Gazette, 1989.

10.                        Décret du 02/08/1913 sur des commerçants et de la preuve des engagements commerciaux, in Bulletin Officiel, 1913.

Regional and International Instruments

1.                              African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPRs) of June 27th, 1981, ratified by Presidential Decree n° 10/1983 of 1st July 1983, Official Gazette n° 13 of 01/07/1983.

2.                              International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Adopted and opened for signature, ratification, and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of December 16th, 1966.

3.                              Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation 21, Equality in marriage and family relations (Thirteenth session, 1992), U.N. Doc. A/49/38 at 1 (1994),

4.                              Compilation of General Comments and General Recommendations Adopted by Human Rights Treaty Bodies, U.N. Doc. HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6 at 250 (2003).

5.                              Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) ratified by Presidential Decree no 436/November 12th November 10th, 1980, Official Gazette no 4 of 15/12/1981.

CASE LAW

1.        Nº R.C.A 0196/15/TGI/NYBE, Nyirahabineza et al. v Habimana, the judgment of 18/02/2016.

2.        Nº RC 0299/07/TGI/NYGE, Kasine v. Twagirimana et al., the judgment of 15/07/2011.

3.        Nº RCA 0128/014/TGI/HYE, Mukambuguje v. Havugiyaremye and Semahe, the judgment of 30/01/2015.

4.        Nº RCA 0322/011/TGI/MHG, Dushimimana v. Usabumubyeyi et al., the judgment of 30/09/2011.

5.        Nº RCA0005/15/TGI/HYE, Uwambajimana v. Ngoga et al., the judgment of 11/6/2015.

6.        Nº RCAA 0006/15/CS, Nsanzabera v. Bariganza, the judgment of 10/02/2017.

7.        Nº RCAA 0069/12/CS, Murengeramanzi v. Mukarurangwa et. al., judgement of 04/04/2014.

8.        Bhe and Others v Magistrate Khayelitsha and Others 2004 (1) SA 580 (CC).

9.        CEDAW, E.S., and S.C. v. the United Republic of Tanzania, Communication No. 48/2013, CEDAW/C/60/D/48/2013, April 13th, 2015.

BOOKS AND ARTICLES

1.      Abby Morrow Richardson, ‘Women’s Inheritance Rights in Africa: The

1.        Need to Intergrate Cultural Understanding and Legal Reform,’ (2004) 11

2.        (2) Human Rights Brief, 19-22.

3.        Alfred Buregeya et al., Women’s Land and Property Rights in Situations of Conflict and Reconstruction, The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), 2001.

4.        Jennie E. Burnet. and Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development, ‘Culture, Practice, and Law: Women’s Access to Land in Rwanda,’ (2003). Anthropology Faculty Publications. Paper 1.

5.        Charles Ntampaka, “Family Law in Rwanda,” in A. Bainham (ed.), The International Survey of Family Law 1995.

6.        Helen Dancer, “An Equal Right to Inherit? Women’s Land Rights, Customary Law and Constitutional Reform in Tanzania”, Social and Legal Studies (2017), 26 (3).

7.        Katrijn Vanhees, Property Rights for Women in Rwanda: Access to Land for Women Living in de facto Unions, Master in de Rechten, Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid Universiteit Gent, 2013-2014.

8.        Krishna Kumar, at Al., “Rebuilding Postwar Rwanda: The Role of the International Community, Center for Development Information and Evaluation,” USAID Evaluation Special Study No. 76.

9.        Mashalaba Siyabulela Welcome, Discrimination against Women under Customary Law in South Africa with Reference to Inheritance and Succession, Mini-Dissertation Masters’ degree, Fort Hare/University of Fort Hare, 2012.

10.    Ndulo, Muna, ‘African Customary Law, Customs, and Women’s Rights,’

11.    (2011). Cornell Law Faculty Publications. Paper 187.

10.     The Republic of Rwanda, Ministry of Lands, Environment, Forests, Water and Mines, National Land Policy 20 (2004).

11.    Sam Rugege, “Women and Poverty in Rwanda: The Respective Roles of Courts and Policy,” Working Paper No. 1, January 2015.