Rwandan Ambassador to Holland Flees to Ireland Fearing Oppression from RPF

By Godwin Agaba
256 News
1 March 2010

News reaching 256news.com indicates that the Rwandan Ambassador to the Netherlands, Jean-Pierre Bizimana, is seeking political asylum in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr. Bizimana failed to turn up for the recently concluded Ambassadors’ retreat in Kigali last week because he feared being arrested by the regime, according to reliable sources.

The sources indicate that Ambassador Bizimana got into trouble because of alleged links to controversial opposition leader Ingabire Victoire Umuhoza of the FDU-INKINGI.

When 256news.com contacted Mrs. Ingabire for a comment, she denied links with him but said, “the Ambassador is being blamed for failing to help assassins sent by Kigali to kill me shortly before my return.”

Other claims include that Mr. Bizimana helped Mrs. Ingabire and her family acquire travel documents without authorization from Kigali.

A source in the West who is aware of Rwandan politics alleged the two (Ingabire and Bizimana) share close kinship.

Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister, did not answer repeated phone calls from 256news.com and even SMS messages seeking clarification went unanswered.

Mrs. Ingabire, who caused a stir by seeking temporary asylum at the British High Commission in Kigali, told 256news.com bytelephone that her impact is being felt by the regime in Kigali, “if Ambassadors are beginning to flee because of me.”

Mrs. Ingabire lived in Holland before returning to Rwanda mid-January this year.