M. Binda, E. (2021). Digital Identity in Rwanda: Case study conducted as part of a ten-country exploration of socio-digital ID systems in parts of Africa<\/i> (Towards the Evaluation of Digital ID Ecosystems in Africa: Findings from Ten Countries) [Case study]. Research ICT Africa (RIA).<\/p>\n
Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n Rwanda started developing its modern ID system in the late 2000s with <\/span>the enactment of the law governing the registration of the population and <\/span>issuance of the national ID card in 2008. This law introduced two types <\/span>of ID cards. The first and the most used is a plastic ID card bearing a 2D <\/span>barcode on its back. The second is an integrated smart ID card with a chip. <\/span>They both have a 16-digit unique number, which is currently used as a <\/span>unique identifier number. <\/span><\/p>\n While the Rwandan ID system is commendable because it satisfies the <\/span>daily identification needs in the physical world today, the national ID <\/span>identification number is becoming more popularly used as a key to access <\/span>services and to effect transactions electronically. However, the extent to <\/span>which this development is backed by an effective legal framework has <\/span>not received much attention. This research report uses CIS\u2019 Evaluation <\/span>Framework to evaluate the extent to which the Rwandan digital ID system <\/span>complies with international standards in the protection of the rights of <\/span>data subjects. <\/span><\/p>\n It appears that, despite the tremendous functional development of the <\/span>Rwandan ID system, the legal and institutional frameworks in support <\/span>of the use of digital ID in Rwanda seem to be weak. A recommendation <\/span>is made to adopt specific legislation on the use of digital IDs in addition <\/span>to the recent promulgation of the law on data protection and privacy to <\/span>strengthen the existing framework.<\/span><\/p>\n