{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox political party | name = Party of Democracy in Rwanda – Ihumure | native_name = Parti Démocratique au Rwanda | logo = | colorcode = #FFEA00 | leader = | founder = Paul Rusesabagina | foundation = 2006 | ideology = Hutu interests | headquarters = | international = | website = {{URL|https://mrcd-ubumwe.org/}} | country = Rwanda | seats1_title = | seats1 = }}
The '''Party of Democracy in Rwanda – Ihumure''' ({{langx|fr|Parti Démocratique au Rwanda}}), often shortened to '''PDR-Ihumure''', is a Rwandan opposition political party, which chiefly operates in exile in the United States and Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Martin|first=Michelle E.|date=2013|title=Ethnonationalist Conflict-Generated Diaspora Use of Social Media in Transnational Political Engagement in Homeland Conflict: The Case of Rwanda|url=https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10454/6417/Michelle%20Martin%20-%20Dissertation%20Department%20of%20Peace%20Studies%20-%20Post-Viva%20Final.pdf;sequence=3|journal=University of Bradford (DPhil Thesis)|volume=|pages=xiii|via=Bradford University|access-date=8 January 2021|archive-date=20 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920180632/https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10454/6417/Michelle%20Martin%20-%20Dissertation%20Department%20of%20Peace%20Studies%20-%20Post-Viva%20Final.pdf;sequence=3|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a part of the MRCD (Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change, French: ''Mouvement Rwandais pour le Changement Démocratique'') coalition of opposition parties. Along with PDR-Ihumure, the coalition includes CNRD-Ubwiyunge, RRM, and RDI-Rwanda Riza.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paul Rusesabagina admits backing rebels, denies violence|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/25/hotel-rwanda-hero-admits-forming-armed-group-behind-attacks|access-date=8 January 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228222320/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/25/hotel-rwanda-hero-admits-forming-armed-group-behind-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mutanganshuro|first=Lavie|date=4 December 2020|title=Rwanda: MRCD-FLN Substantive Trial Set for January 26|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202012040719.html|access-date=8 January 2021|website=allAfrica.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, the party was founded in the diaspora by activist Paul Rusesabagina, on whom the Hollywood blockbuster ''Hotel Rwanda'' is based.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paul Rusesabagina has the right to a fair trial|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/09/rwanda-paul-rusesabagina-must-be-guaranteed-a-fair-trial/|access-date=8 January 2021|website=www.amnesty.org|language=en|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915140603/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/09/rwanda-paul-rusesabagina-must-be-guaranteed-a-fair-trial/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Uwiringiyimana|first=Clement|date=25 September 2020|title='Hotel Rwanda' inspiration tells court he did not direct attacks|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-rwanda-politics-idUKKCN26G260|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> Rusesabagina is currently president of the party and the MRCD coalition, though he has been held in prison in Rwanda since being arrested in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 August 2020|title=Heroic hotelier from 'Hotel Rwanda' arrested on terrorism charges|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200831-heroic-hotelier-from-hotel-rwanda-arrested-on-terrorism-charges|access-date=8 January 2021|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref>
PDR-Ihumure is seen as a primarily Hutu party by scholars.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jones|first=Will|date=2 April 2016|title=Victoire in Kigali, or: why Rwandan elections are not won transnationally|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17531055.2016.1187816|journal=Journal of Eastern African Studies|language=en|volume=10|issue=2|pages=343–365|doi=10.1080/17531055.2016.1187816|s2cid=148403633|issn=1753-1055|access-date=8 January 2021|archive-date=19 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719142432/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17531055.2016.1187816|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> It has been linked with Hutu Power groups, ex-FAR troops, and Rwandan Liberation Movements in Congo.<ref name=":0" /> The party was formed expressly to oppose the ruling RPF party, led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
==Military wing== The party also has a military wing, the '''FLN''' (National Liberation Front), which Rusesabagina himself has acknowledged as an "armed wing", which he claims was set up in order to assist Rwandan refugees.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Paul Rusesabagina admits backing rebels, denies violence|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/25/hotel-rwanda-hero-admits-forming-armed-group-behind-attacks|access-date=8 January 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228222320/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/25/hotel-rwanda-hero-admits-forming-armed-group-behind-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Since being founded, however, the FLN has taken responsibility for terrorist attacks — including an attack on passenger buses in Nyungwe, Burundi which killed two people.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Uwiringiyimana|first=Clement|date=23 May 2019|title=Rwanda rebel spokesman pleads guilty to terrorism offences|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ozatp-uk-rwanda-rebels-idAFKCN1ST1KN-OZATP|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> Rusesabagina has accepted a role in setting up its armed offshoot, but denied sponsoring violence, stating: "we formed the FLN as an armed wing, not as a terrorist group as the prosecution keeps saying. The aim was to draw the government to the attention of the plight of refugees. I do not deny that the FLN committed crimes but my role was diplomacy."<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 September 2020|title=Hotel Rwanda 'hero' admits forming armed group behind attacks|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/world/hotel-rwanda-hero-admits-forming-armed-group-behind-attacks-11601042752429.html|access-date=8 January 2021|website=mint|language=en|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020233557/https://www.livemint.com/news/world/hotel-rwanda-hero-admits-forming-armed-group-behind-attacks-11601042752429.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Rwandan political parties}} Category:2006 establishments in Rwanda Category:Political parties established in 2006 Category:Political parties in Rwanda Category:Rebel groups in Rwanda