The following information regarding Rwandan national identity cards (ID) was provided by a representative in the office of the Ambassador of the Embassy of The Republic of Rwanda in Washington, DC, on 13 December 2002:

In order to obtain or replace a national ID card the individual must apply in person to their local district office.

Each district office has a dossier for every individual who resides in the district.

The individual must prove their identity either by producing other identification papers or by signing a sworn affidavit.

A new ID card will then be produced by the district office which may take as long as a day or a month depending on the district.

For additional information on Rwandan ID cards for the period following the 1994 genocide, please consult RWA38197.E of 7 December 2001.

Information on the "attestation d'identite" could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Rwanda. Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, Washington, DC. 13 December 2002. Telephone interview with a representative in the office of the Ambassador.

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Rwandan embassy in London and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kigali.

Internet sites, including:

AllAfrica.com

Amnesty International (AI)

BBC Africa

The Daily Nation

East African Standard

Embassy of Rwanda, Washington DC

Global IDP

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

International Crisis Group (ICG)

Prevent Genocide International

Republic of Rwanda

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR)

U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM)

World News Connection (WNC)

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