Rwanda: Paul Kagame Sacrificed The Tutsis

[Translated from original French by Mamadou Kouyate. Only the French version shall prevail==MK/HTPJ]

Paul Kagame sacrificed the Tutsis
By Jean-Marie Vianney Ndagijimana
April 2009

ISBN: 978-2-916380-07-0
Editions La Pagaie
BP 3653545065
Orléans cedex 2
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Abstract:

“General Paul Kagame has not stopped the Tutsi genocide as he has always claimed. On the contrary, this warlord has deliberately provoked the genocide then he cynically and systematically rejected all initiatives of the Rwandan Armed Forces, the United Nations and some Western countries -including France- to stop the massacre of Tutsis. On several occasions he threatened to fire on foreign troops that would attempt to intervene to stop the genocide. Kagame’s objective has never been to protect the Tutsis from within Rwanda, but to use them as an excuse to gain power by force. Therefore, Kagame is jointly responsible for the Tutsi genocide to the same extent as other genocidaires and must respond for his acts both in courtroom and before history”.

About the author:

Jean-Marie Vianney NDAGIJIMANA is a lawyer by training. He studied at the universities of Bujumbura and Kinshasa. A professional diplomat, he served in Brussels, Paris and Addis Ababa. He is a privileged observer of the ethnic and political conflicts in his country of origin, Rwanda, and the entire African Great Lakes region. He now runs several associations that promote national and regional reconciliation on the basis of impartial justice and dialogue.

JMV Ndagijimana was Ambassador of Rwanda to Paris in October 1990 to April 1994 before being sacked for having denounced the massacre of Tutsi and the Hutu of the opposition. On July 19, 1994, he became Minister (MDR) of Foreign Affairs in the so-called government "of national unity at large" headed by Mr Faustin Twagiramungu. In September 1994, Mr Koffi Annan, then UN adjunct Secretary-General on humanitarian issues submitted to JMV Ndagijimana a report confirming the massacre of tens of thousands of Hutu civilians by the army of Paul Kagame between July and September 1994. Refusing to endorse Kagame’s policy of ethnic cleansing, JMV Ndagijimana left the government and chose exile in order to bear witness to the world opinion and denounce such a silent genocide but equally heinous and condemnable to the same extent as the genocide against the Tutsis. Through his testimonies, JMV Ndagijimana pursues his fight for truth, justice and reconciliation.

Some excerpts:

Assassination of Fred Rwigema and the rise of Paul Kagame
(From “Paul Kagame sacrificed the Tutsis”, page 51 to 54)

On October 2, 1990, the Rwandan civil war was about to promptly end following a major event that remained secret until the end of October. General Fred Rwigema who led RPF rebel troops died in circumstances that have never been clarified. The high command of the new RPF embargoed the event until about October 10, 1990. Even the international news media were trapped and continued to praise the bravery of the young general, Fred Rwigema. However, strange scenarios supposed to leak secrets about this event took place within the RPF. Since the beginning of hostilities, two officers suddenly appeared on the stage and gave the impression of being the real strong men of the Front. Namely, Major Bayingana and Major Bunyenyezi were the only ones to speak out on the airwaves of international news media on behalf of the rebels, without ever referring to their commander in chief. On or about October 10, 1990, the most alarming rumors were circulating among the refugees in Uganda: Fred Rwigema might have been seriously injured and transferred to the United Kingdom.

I learned the death of Fred Rwigema just days later. At a farewell reception held in my honor by my country mate Kinuma Faustin, then head of division at the Organization of African Unity (AU). I met a Ugandan official from AU freshly transferred from New York. Namely, Mr Gideon Kayinamura, was a Tutsi naturalized Ugandan. During our small talk, he did not hide his sympathy for the RPF rebellion and the role his cousin Patrick Mazimpaka, co-founder of the RPF, was playing within the Front. Without being forced to do so, my ex-country mate told me about a persistent rumor on Fred Rwigema’s death. When I asked him how he became aware of such a rumor, he said that one of his friends in Kampala had informed him that it has been a few days that a secret memorial service was being held at the home of the General rebel. “There's no doubt about it”, he concluded. He warned me saying: “Do not think that the death of Fred Rwigema will end the civil war, not at all. Make sure to not stalemate! You (Rwandan government) should find a quick solution to the problems posed by this war. Otherwise, Rwanda will irreversibly enter a process of “somalisation”. RPF rebels are true warriors, Your Excellency”!

After the reception I informed Kigali about the rumors on Fred Rwigema’s death, alluding to the risk of “somalisation” predicted by Gideon Kayinamura, the future ambassador of Rwanda in New York under the RPF regime.

The news spreads in Kigali at a supersonic speed. Speculations are rife. Some circles warn that it may be an attempt of disinformation. Rwigema, they say, is touring the world in search of sophisticated weapons. The announcement of his injury would be a decoy. Others confirmed Rwigema’s death and concluded that the RPF has been defeated.

Nevertheless, the FAR (Rwandan Army) got reenergized at the thought of injuring or killing the commander in chief of the RPF rebels. Several young officers and non-commissioned officers (NCO) claim to be the authors. On October 23, 1990, another lurch came about: the two spokesmen of the RPF in turn disappeared from circulation. The event is even so important that on the battle field the rebels went through a series of slumps, one after another, suffering heavy military setbacks. Late in October 1990, the first phase of the Rwandan civil war ended in a total confusion. Expelled from the Rwandan territory, the RPF troops resumed their journey to Uganda, while Rwandan forces cleanse the region of Mutara tracking down the latest rebels hiding in the Akagera National Park. President Habyarimana can now boast of having barely escaped, but for how long? Is the problem solved so far? The representatives of Rwandan refugees in Europe are not already talking about a tactical withdrawal aimed at preceding a long period of guerrilla warfare? Will the president of Uganda himself accepts such a humiliation? Nothing was for sure!

With regard to the main causes of the RPF retreat, many people believe that the sudden death of the rebel leader disorganized and demoralized the troops. These people also establish a link between Rwigema’s death and the death of his two deputies, Major Bayingana and Major Bunyenyezi. It is said that contradictions appeared in the high command of the RPF as to the advisability of launching the attack when peaceful prospects were clearly becoming plausible. General Rwigema was ready to accept Habyarimana’s welcoming hand, while other members of the RPF High Command favored a military solution. Confronting the reality on the ground determined the rest. Twenty-four (24) hours after entering into the Rwandan territory, these contradictions reached their paroxysm. Quickly, a group of RPF “intellectuals” accused Rwigema of tactical mistakes and softness. During a meeting held in early October 1990, General Rwigema was simply executed by his assistants. High precaution measures were taken to simulate this murder into an accident. The traitors had now a freer hand to pursue the military campaign without qualms.

President Museveni who was very attached to Fred Rwigema decided to take things in control. “We must revenge Fred Rwigema and reorganize the command of the RPF”, he said. No sooner said than done! Museveni recalled back home Major Paul Kagame, chief of military intelligence of the Ugandan army, who was being trained in the United States. Kagame returned to Kampala around October 10, 1990. After endless meetings with President Museveni, he crossed the Ugandan border into Rwanda and joined the front on October 14, 1990. A week later, on October 23, 1990, Major Bayingana and Major Bunyenyezi were cold bloodily executed on Kagame’s orders. The battle field was now free and a new strong man was born. Kagame was the most feared officer within the Ugandan army. He was best known for his expeditious methods that have proven successful in the fight against the armed rebellion in Northern Uganda. The Ugandan soldiers had nicknamed him Pontius Pilate. Thirty (30) years old when the RPF attack against Rwanda was launched, Major Paul Kagame, like Fred Rwigema, grew up in exile. His mother is the younger sister of Queen Rosalie Gicanda, widow of late King Mutara III Rudahigwa. This providential relationship brought the young Major much closer to the last kings (Bami) Tutsi and provided him with a surplus of legitimacy that was crucially needed in such circumstances. His first official appearance at the head of the RPF coincided with the first negotiation meeting held by President Mobutu of Zaire (now DRC), between delegations of Rwanda and RPF aimed at concluding a cease-fire.

Related Materials:
Explaining the Ultimate Escalation in Rwanda:How and Why Tutsi Rebels Provoked a Retaliatory Genocide

Provoking genocide: a revised history of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.

Paul Kagame, the Mastermind of the Genocide of Interior Tutsis

Testimony of Abdul Ruzibiza about how mistakes by both the Rwandan Government and the RPF led to the Rwandan genocide of 1994