Faced with a serious land crisis, the Rwandan government adopted a new national land law and policy. These measures are part of a long historical process of expansion of state control over property, including land and cows. The Government cites security of tenure as the primary objective of the new policy and law. The rigor and speed of implementation of these measures will vary from one community to another. This paper argues that some feel threatened by the new law and will act as they find necessary to protect their interests.