Paul Kagame

===New constitution===
{{main|Constitution of Rwanda}}
Between 1994 and 2003, Rwanda was governed by a set of documents combining President Habyarimana's 1991 constitution, the Arusha Accords, and some additional protocols introduced by the transitional government.{{sfn|Gasamagera|2007|pp=1–2}} As required by the accords, Kagame set up a constitutional commission to draft a new permanent constitution.{{sfn|Gasamagera|2007|p=3}} The constitution was required to adhere to a set of fundamental principles including equitable power sharing and democracy.{{sfn|Gasamagera|2007|p=4}} The commission sought to ensure that the draft constitution was "home-grown", relevant to Rwanda's specific needs, and reflected the views of the entire population; they sent questionnaires to civil groups across the country and rejected offers of help from the international community, except for financial assistance.{{sfn|Gasamagera|2007|pp=5–6}}

The draft constitution was released in 2003; it was approved by the parliament, and was then put to a referendum in May of that year.{{sfn|BBC News (VII)|2003}} The referendum was widely promoted by the government; ultimately, {{Percentage|95|100|0}} of eligible adults registered to vote and the turnout on voting day was {{Percentage|87|100|0}}.{{sfn|Economist|2003}} The constitution was overwhelmingly accepted, with {{Percentage|93|100|0}} voting in favour.{{sfn|Economist|2003}} The constitution provided for a two-house parliament, an elected president serving seven-year terms, and multi-party politics.{{sfn|Economist|2003}} 

The constitution also sought to prevent Hutu or Tutsi hegemony over political power.{{sfn|Economist|2003}} Article 54 states that "political organizations are prohibited from basing themselves on race, ethnic group, tribe, clan, region, sex, religion or any other division which may give rise to discrimination".{{sfn|CJCR|2003|loc=article 54}} According to Human Rights Watch, this clause, along with later laws enacted by the parliament, effectively make Rwanda a [[one-party state]], as "under the guise of preventing another genocide, the government displays a marked intolerance of the most basic forms of dissent".{{sfn|Roth|2009}}