The Untold Stories: What does the recent Rwandan Military reshuffle mean to the Political terrain in Rwanda?

President Paul Kagame has replaced the army commanders five times in 19 years. From top to bottom, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, Gen Charles Kayonga, Gen James Kabarebe, Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa, Gen Sam Kaka.

Before the death of Gen. Dan Gafizi in a tragedy accident, the President invoking his constitutional right, he replaced his Chief of Defense Forces Commander Lt. Gen Charles Kayonga . He did not only replace him but he equally promoted his successor to the rank of a full General Patrick Nyanvumba.

 But what does that mean? Is it a normal military reshuffle? Does it have a hidden agenda? Is there any plan to eliminate or replace all the old guards?

As the country prepares the parliamentary elections and the presidential elections coming closer and the likelihood of the incumbent president to keep warming the chair, the old guards that might cause trouble are more likely to be eliminated one by one so that Kagame could extend his grip on power without fear that some of his colleagues will ask if he is the only man who fought for the country or spill the beans altogether.

When the former director of the Rwandan Media (ORINFOR) Col. Wilson Rutayisire was moved from the media house, little did we know that the Kagame camp was planning his death clandestinely! They later said that Col. Wilson Rutayisire was killed in Congo; others said he had committed suicide.  The public to this date don’t know the actual death of that Rwandan liberator. Another shameful act of murder by the agents of death in the Rwandan security forces on the orders of Kagame himself  is the murder of Col. Kizza  and  Maj. Alex Ruzindana respectively,  whereas  the Rwandan security  officials said that Col. Kizza had joined the rebel ranks in Congo, the death of Maj. Alex Ruzindana who was part of the RPF struggle that ended the bloody regime that  planned genocide  is to this day a mystery, although  traces  have revealed that Kagame ordered his murder through his agents  namely Major Vianney Butera , Col. Tinka Faustin  who is currently  a  Rwandan military attaché to Tanzania  and the Current  Police Chief  Emmanuel Gasana.

The rise   of president Kagame was unfortunately based on the doctrine of murders, intrigues and lies,   it is believed that all the former RPF senior commanders were eliminated by Kagame’s clandestine murdering skills so that he could consolidate his power. Indeed, he continued with the same philosophy to eliminate the former president Pasteur Bizimungu in 2000. Through his agents of Col. Rose Kabuye  and some new comers in the RPF like Elise Bisengimana who is actually serving a 19 year sentence for his involvement in the genocide and another business man Mugarura Alex who were dragged in the smear campaign of the  former president without knowing that one day they will pay the price in the same currency.   They were all eventually swept in the dust bin of history and all are gone.

When the RPF attacked the Ruhengeri City in January 1991 and opened the gates of the prison and set free some of the prisoners who later joined the RPF, they had three big fish from that prison, namely Major Stanisilas Biseruka, Major Theoneste Lizinde and Commander Muvunanyambo. They initially boosted the   RPF structure that was widely seen as one group of Rwandans who were not only politically incapable of uniting the Rwandan people but also ideologically revengeful to what happened to their parents in the 1950s.

Again another prominent RPF official who was sidelined was the long time RPF Chairman Hon Col.Alex Kanyarengwe wo was similarly treated like the ones I have mentioned above. He was not only kept out of major military and political operations but also eventually eliminated, first by dropping him out the government and finally restricting him from   accessing medication until his death. It goes without saying that the recent reshuffle in which the former commander of the soldiers who were deployed in the current parliament   popularly known as CND is now a man who will watch the match not even from the pavilion but in the  audience.

Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga who knows a lot of RPF secrets especially some murders which were planned and hutched in the CND by RPF, will not only be a threat to the Regime of President Kagame who is widely believed to stand again come 2017 when his term of office expires but also a man who is widely  believed to harbor political ambitions like some of his counterparts in the region. Just recently in the neighboring Uganda one of the historicals of NRA/NRM, Gen. Sejusa  a.k Tinyefunza, said that a general without political ambitions is in a wrong place. Apparently the biggest threat for the RPF is not the traditional opposition of the veteran politicians like Faustin Twagiramungu but the new comers who were Kagame’s confidants like Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa and his colleague. These  young , fresh politicians are not only drawing support from the civilians  but also from the military, therefore whoever is suspected to have any links with renegade soldiers even if it’s just a rumor, will have his grave prepared.

It is in this regard that, Kagame will continue to sideline his comrades who were not only instrumental in shaping the Rwanda today but were there to assist him take power.  It is a shame that many of his colleagues were killed for mere rumoring within their circles or were killed on the orders of Kagame for just to consolidate his power. It is equally a shame that the Wife and Children of the fallen comrades, like Fred Rwigema,  Peter Bayingana, Chris Bunyenyezi,  Steven Ndugute,  William Bagire,  Kayitare(Intare Batinya) just to mention a few are not catered for.  The RDF/RPF should have a fund for the families of the fallen RPF comrades who did not only shade their blood to liberate our country but they did so that their families will reap the fruits of their blood. RPF should take lessons from ANC of South Africa; they have been there all times for their comrades, regardless of their political differences. Thabo Mbeki is a free man in the South Africa under Jacob Zuma, why can’t we honor ourselves by learning to live together.  Together we stand divided we fall.

 

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels.