Objectives:
The main objective of Law N° 12/2014 is to establish the Rwanda Archives and Library Services Authority (RALSA) to implement government policies on managing public/private archives and library services. It aims to improve the preservation, accessibility, and standardization of national documentary heritage and modern records.
Restitution Measures:
Article 4.12 specifically mandates RALSO to “to engage in partnerships with agencies and organizations in charge of archives and library services that are based inside and outside Rwanda and with other agencies and organizations that can help RALSA fulfil its mission”. This includes identifying, documenting, and negotiating for the return of dispersed archives, particularly those from the colonial mandate period located in Belgium.
Limitations:
This law is heavily focused on domestic records organisation and management and lacks clear legal mechanisms for handling complex negotiations related to the return of records held abroad, often requiring international mediation.
