‘Kidnapped’ ex-official returns to haunt Rwandan Greens, alleges plot to murder him
Democratic Green Party of Rwanda president Frank Habineza (left) and his nemesis Omar Leo Oustazi, a former official. Photos/File/Cyril Ndegeya
- Omar Leo Oustazi, who was the Communications Secretary of the party, reappeared a year after he went missing in January 2013.
- A former member of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda who disappeared in mysterious circumstances is thought to be behind a suspected hideous plot to break up the country’s youngest political party and dislodge its founder, Frank Habineza, from its leadership.
Omar Leo Oustazi, who was the Communications Secretary of the party, reappeared a year after he went missing in January 2013, prompting the party to inform security organs and mount a search for him.
A few weeks into the search, the Inspector-General of Police announced that the investigations had been halted because the police could not continue “wasting public resources” looking for someone who had staged his own kidnap.
Planned own disappearance
Police said in a statement that Mr Oustazi was reportedly in Burundi, where he had voluntarily taken himself, and not kidnapped as earlier thought to be the case.
DGRP however continued to express concerns about the official’s disappearance until February 2 when the party announced that it had relieved him of his duties because of controversial statements he was posting on Facebook, some attacking top government officials.
Mr Oustazi resurfaced last week, almost 13 months later, with his version of events which has rattled the party leadership. The Rwandan Greens are questioning the manner in which Mr Oustazi returned and what his likely intentions are.
He told journalists at the Rwanda National Police headquarters that he planned his disappearance after learning that members of his party, particularly Mr Habineza, were planning to “kill or kidnap him” and blame it on top government officials, including the Minister for Defence, Gen James Kabarebe.
“My family did not raise any concern anywhere that I had disappeared,” said Mr Oustazi. “It is Mr Habineza who started it and later rumours started making rounds that Gen Kabarebe had kidnapped me.
“At this point, I feared that I would be killed and my death pinned on him. So I said, let me go somewhere out of Rwanda for my own safety, and that is how I ended up in exile.”
The former official’s allegations came as a shock to DGPR, which raised the red flag soon after he went missing, with Mr Habineza terming the accusations as “naked lies.”
“The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda wishes to inform the general public and members of the media that all allegations and accusations being made by Mr Omar Leo, who was presented to the media yesterday [Tuesday] by the National Police are null and void,” Mr Habineza stated.
Mr Habineza however says his party was pleased to see Mr Oustazi reappear, having made many calls to search for him, but added that his statements, including the alleged plot to murder him, were unfortunate
“There was no plan or dream to harm him in any way and blame it on the government,” Mr Habineza said. “The party never accused the government for his disappearance but rather requested the authorities to assist in efforts to establish his whereabouts.
“All the allegations and accusations Omar Leo is making are all naked lies and thus null and void.”
Last year, Mr Habineza accused some unnamed elements working for the ruling party, Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), of plotting to disintegrate the party and do away with him in a manner similar to the one that led to the split of PS Imberakuri in 2010.
The Bernard Ntaganda-led opposition party split into two after a group led by Christine Mukabunani distanced itself from Mr Ntaganda, who was battling charges of public incitement, ethnic divisionism and genocide ideology.
Mr Habineza is worried that the manner in which Mr Oustazi returned and the courtesy he was accorded by state agencies could spell doom for the party.
“As a party, we are wondering how Mr Omar Leo returned and how he ended up addressing a press conference at the Rwanda National Police,” Mr Habineza told Rwanda Today. “In what capacity was he accorded this privilege? Maybe he is trying to buy his way back, but the treatment he is enjoying is likely not to be for nothing.”
Rwanda National Police (RNP) however said Mr Oustazi contacted the Director of CID, ACP Theos Badege, from his safe have in Nairobi and informed him that he wanted to return home and RNP facilitated him.
Destabilising the party
“It’s the duty of RNP to facilitate any Rwandan who wishes to return home, and it is in that spirit that he was facilitated,” said the media directorate head, CIP Emmanuel Kabanda. He said police facilitated the press conference in a bid to clear the air that security organs were involved in Mr Oustazi’s disappearance.
However, DGRP fears that Mr Oustazi’s likely next move will be to engage in activities aimed at destabilising the party, which was registered mid-last year. But Mr Oustazi said he had no plans to rejoin the party following “betrayal” by Mr Habineza.
