International Treaties and Agreements

The President of the Republic or his or her delegate has the sole power to negotiate and sign international treaties and agreements. The President of the Republic has the sole power to ratify international treaties and agreements. The Parliament is notified of those treaties and agreements following their conclusion.

However, international treaties and agreements concerning armistice, peace, commerce, international organisations, those which commit state finances, those requiring modification of national legislation or relating to the status of persons can only be ratified after approval by Parliament.

International treaties and agreements ceding or exchanging part of the territory of Rwanda or adding a territory of another country to Rwanda cannot be ratified without the consent of Rwandans through a referendum.

Upon publication of a Presidential Order ratifying an international treaty or agreement in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda, the international treaty or agreement has the force of law as national legislation in accordance with the hierarchy of laws provided for under Paragraph (1) of Article 95 of this Constitution.

It is prohibited to make international agreements permitting foreign military bases on the national territory.

It is prohibited to make international agreements permitting the transit or dumping, on national territory, of toxic waste and other hazardous materials likely to cause serious damage to public health and the environment.

Where an international treaty or agreement contains provisions which are conflicting with the Constitution or an organic law, its ratification cannot be done until the Constitution or the organic law is modified.