Francis Dusabe he/she was not attributed his/her father’s nationality at birth. To qualify, the applicant had to have lived in Rwanda for the three years preceding the date of application.17 iv. There was no right to nationality based on birth in Rwanda to foreign parents. v. Dual nationality was outlawed. As a consequence, those with a Rwandan nationality of origin who had acquired the nationality of their host country were no longer recognised as having any connection with Rwandan. In many cases, the acquisition of a foreign nationality was not done in accordance with the necessary legal formalities, leaving the people concerned living in limbo and risking becoming stateless. vi. Nationality based on marriage was only open to foreign women who married Rwandan men. Acquisition was automatic on the day of the celebration of marriage unless the beneficiary was unwilling to lose her nationality of origin. 18 A foreign woman who was not willing to acquire Rwandan nationality on her marriage to a Rwandan man was obliged to make a statement on the retention of her nationality of origin within a year of the date of marriage. Foreign men could not acquire Rwandan nationality through marriage to Rwandan women. Rwandan women who married foreign men had a right to renounce their Rwandan nationality within a year. Otherwise, their acquired foreign nationality would not be recognised in Rwanda.19 vii. New-born infants of unknown parents found on Rwandan territory were attributed Rwandan nationality unless another nationality was later proved to exist.20 viii. Adopted children could become Rwandan only if the adopting parent was the father and if the adoption had caused the child to lose his/her nationality of origin.21 The law of 1963 also provided for the adoption of an adult person so long as the adoptee renounced his nationality of origin in favour of being Rwandan.22 ix. As in the Belgian Code de nationalité, naturalisation could be granted following parliamentary approval and through a presidential decree. The conditions to be met included ten years of legal residence in Rwanda, or abroad if in service for Rwanda or for study.23 This period could be shortened to five years for those who had provided exceptional services to Rwanda. Other conditions included good character and good physical and mental health, assimilation into the national community including knowledge of the language, practising an activity of interest to Rwanda and renunciation of a previous nationality. 2.2.2. Remaking Rwandan nationality: the game changer in the 1990s On 1 October 1990, a liberation struggle was launched by Rwandan refugees, following multiple demands to be allowed to return peacefully to Rwanda. This conflict led to a series of 17 See Article 8 of the Nationality Code of 1963. See Article 7 of the Nationality Code of 1963. 19 See Articles 20, 33 and 34 of the Nationality code of 1963. 20 See Article 5 of the Nationality Code of 1963. 21 See Article 9 of the Nationality Code of 1963. 22 See article 10 of the Nationality Code of 1963. 23 See Article 13 of the Nationality Code of 1963. 18 4 RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/10- © 2020 Author(s)