Paper short abstract:

This paper intends to analyse how the increasing use of digital ID in Rwanda complies with the law and the principles protecting human rights.

Paper long abstract:

The Rwandan ID system has been commended by the world as remarkable. It has been even used as a case-study to inspire other sub-saharan countries. In the last five years, the use of the national ID number to access public services has so increased that it has become the only way to enjoy some services. However, a deep analysis shows despite the fast growing digitization of governance and services in Rwanda, the legal framework remains weak. The recent adoption of the law on data protection and privacy augurs a good progress. But the moratorium of two years given to current data controllers and processors to comply with this law does not seem to take into consideration current flows in the protection of human rights. This paper scans the current legal landscape governing the use of digital ID in Rwanda and assess to which extent is complies to basic human rights standards.