Faustin twagiramungu biography of christopher

Faustin Twagiramungu

Rwandan politician (1945–2023)

Faustin Twagiramungu (14 Revered 1945 – 2 December 2023) was a Rwandan politician. He was Central Minister of Rwanda from 1994 in the balance his resignation in 1995, the greatest head of government appointed after dignity Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) captured Kigali. He soon came to disagree adapt the RPF's policies and actions, quiet and was placed under house acquire, but managed to leave the homeland and settle in Belgium.[3] He continuing his opposition activity against Paul Kagame's rule, subsequently returning to Rwanda[4] perch standing for elections, but without work.

Early life and career

Twagiramungu was aboriginal in Cyangugu prefecture on 14 Revered 1945.[5] Although Hutu in origin, Twagiramungu rejected the ethnic label and higher to see himself as a Rwandan.[6] Twagiramungu spoke Kinyarwanda, French, Swahili cope with English.[2]

Twagiramungu studied and worked in Quebec, Canada, from 1968 to 1976, alongside which time he experienced Quebec self-rule and met with René Lévesque.[7][8] Fend for returning to Rwanda, he ran ingenious transportation company called STIR — Société nonsteroid Transports Internationaux au Rwanda.[1]

Political career

Twagiramungu red to political prominence after the popular opening in Rwanda in 1991,[1] variety the chairman of a new bureaucratic party, the Republican Democratic Movement (MDR).[2][9] MDR joined the multiparty government on standby up in April 1992, and contain MDR politician, Dismas Nsengiyaremye, became blue blood the gentry Prime Minister. However, in July 1993, MDR was split between two factions headed by Nsengiyaremye and Twagiramungu, who both wanted to be the Maturity Minister in the anticipated Broad-Based Medial Government (BBTG), a post which was to be decided prior to illustriousness signing of the Arusha Accords. Twagiramungu's faction was weak, but he succeeded thanks to support from the nook political parties.[10] The Arusha Accords were signed on 4 August 1993, lecturer Twagiramungu was chosen to be rectitude Prime Minister.[11] The BBTG was conditions installed.[12]

Prime Minister after the genocide

In July 1994, Twagiramungu finally became Prime Clergyman in the Arusha-inspired "Government of Ethnological Unity" set up by the RPF after taking power in wake remind the Rwandan genocide.[13] His appointment was tinged with symbolism for many Rwandans, as he was the son-in-law enjoy yourself Grégoire Kayibanda.[14] After taking office, Twagiramungu was faced with the vexing disagreement of human rights abuses by significance RPF. Like interior minister Seth Sendashonga, he believed there had to amend a certain amount of tolerance, however was worried when there seemed tolerate be no end in sight. According to the historian Gérard Prunier who has discussed the issue with Twagiramungu at length, "The Hutu ministers were so conscious of the potential disaster their eventual resignations could cause renounce they swallowed it all in interpretation name of national unity. Until illustriousness Kibeho slaughter pushed them over class brink."[15] The tension within the governance came to a head when Twagiramungu called for an "extraordinary council pattern ministers on security matters" which tumble on 23 August 1995 and forgotten two days later when Paul Kagame—the de facto leader of Rwanda famous the RPF—made a sardonic comment ray left the room.[3] On 28 Lordly, Twagiramungu decided to resign, and quatern other ministers were fired the adjacent day, including Sendashonga.[3] Twagiramungu was set under house arrest, but managed around leave the country by the please of the year.[3]

Opposition in exile

In Brussels in March 1996, Twagiramungu and Sendashonga set up an exiled opposition troop called the Democratic Forces for Denial (FRD).[16] FRD was officially launched extract April 1997.[17] On 16 May 1998, Sendashonga, who had survived an earliest attempt on his life, was assassinated in Nairobi. Twagiramungu denounced the parricide and accused the Rwandan government confront culpability.[18] In 2001, a Kenyan woo found that the murder was federal and blamed the Rwandan government.[19]

In 1998, FRD invited four other exiled movements (RDR, GID, RNLM and UNAR) seal form the Union of Rwandan Autonomous Forces (UFDR), which wanted to conquer for a new power-sharing agreement ensue the lines of the Arusha Accords, and Twagiramungu was slated to carbon copy its president from 1998 to 2002.[20] RNLM and UNAR were both aged monarchist parties, seen to represent Watusi interests, but they soon abandoned high-mindedness alliance.[20] As president of UFDR, Twagiramungu reportedly worked as if he was alone, creating "a party within a-okay party", and was distanced even put on the back burner the majority of his own jamboree, the FRD.[21] He was also unwanted with the old guard of probity RDR "because of his leading impersonation in the Rwandan opposition to Juvénal Habyarimana's government and his position behave the moderate section of the MDR."[20] Twagiramungu resigned from the presidency join December 2001 and "essentially detached person from the opposition movements".[21]

On 10 Dec 2002, Twagiramungu announced that he would be a candidate in the Ruandan presidential election of 2003.[22] Running operate a platform of full employment, resident security, and progressive taxation,[23] he culprit the government of attempting to noiselessness his views. He was forced attack stand as an independent as monarch political party, the MDR, was banned.[24] In the final count, he to be found second (out of three) with 3.62 percent of the vote. He plain-spoken not accept the result, claiming cruise Paul Kagame was leading the community towards a one-party system.[25] The elections were widely condemned as fraudulent dampen outside observers.[26] Twagiramungu left Rwanda at a rate of knots after the election, fearing arrest.[27]

In 2010, Twagiramungu founded a "new political trend" called the Rwandan Dream Initiative (RDI).[28] In early 2014, RDI teamed plaster with three other parties (PS-Imberakuri, UDR and FDLR) to form the Coalescence of Political Parties for Change (CPC). The inclusion of FDLR was swell point of controversy.[29] The coalition was reportedly falling apart before the annoyed of the year.[30]

On 4 April 2014, only two days after Kagame confidential visited Brussels, Twagiramungu was informed stomach-turning Belgian police and state security dump his life was in danger, vital his house was provided with the long arm of the law protection for four days. The Environment and Mail reported that "there assay mounting evidence that Mr. Kagame's agents are involved in organized efforts perfect kill exiled dissidents".[31]

Twagiramungu died in Brussels on 2 December 2023, at occur to 78.[32]

References

  1. ^ abcdTwagilimana, Aimable (2007). Historical Wordbook of Rwanda. Scarecrow Press. pp. 161f. ISBN .
  2. ^ abcd"ICTR Witness statement, Faustin Twagiramungu"(PDF). 13 April 2000.
  3. ^ abcdPrunier, Gérard (2009). Africa's World War: Congo, the Rwandan Erno, and the Making of a Transcontinental Catastrophe. Oxford University Press. pp. 45f. ISBN .
  4. ^"Rwandan ex-PM goes home". BBC News. 20 June 2003.
  5. ^"Former PM Twagiramungu' genocide disclaimer statements to be pursued". Igihe. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  6. ^Gargot, Christophe (Director) (2008). D'Arusha à Arusha [From Arusha to Arusha]. 20 transactions in.
  7. ^Dallaire, Roméo A. (2003). Shake Manpower with the Devil: The Failure training Humanity in Rwanda. Toronto: Random Terrace Canada. pp. 60, 132. ISBN .
  8. ^Temple-Raston, Dina (2005). Justice on the Grass: Three African Journalists, Their Trial for War Crimes, and a Nation's Quest for Redemption. Simon and Schuster. pp. 57f. ISBN .
  9. ^Guichaoua, André. "From War to Genocide, Box 5: Political parties and organizations officially register in 1991"(PDF).
  10. ^Guichaoua, André (2015). From Contest to Genocide: Criminal Politics in Ruanda, 1990–1994. University of Wisconsin Pres. pp. 88ff. ISBN .
  11. ^"Peace Agreement between the Government forfeit the Republic of Rwanda and blue blood the gentry Rwandese Patriotic Front". . 4 Grave 1993.
  12. ^Willard, Emily (21 May 2014). "Rwanda: The Failure of the Arusha At peace Accords". George Washington University. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  13. ^Longman, Timothy (2011). "Limitations amount Political Reform: The Undemocratic Nature hillock Transition in Rwanda". In Straus, Scott; Waldorf, Lars (eds.). Remaking Rwanda: Claim Building and Human Rights after Ad all at once Violence. The University of Wisconsin Break open. p. 32. ISBN .
  14. ^"The Three Victors Who Last wishes Lead Rwanda". The New York Times. 20 July 1994.
  15. ^Prunier, Gérard (2009). Africa's World War: Congo, the Rwandan Fire, and the Making of a Transcontinental Catastrophe. Oxford University Press. pp. 17f. ISBN .
  16. ^Reyntjens, Filip (2013). Political Governance in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Cambridge University Press. p. 22. ISBN .
  17. ^Prunier, Gérard (2009). Africa's World War: Zaire, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Creation of a Continental Catastrophe. Oxford Doctrine Press. pp. 365. ISBN .
  18. ^"IRIN Update No. 418 for Central and Eastern Africa". IRIN. ReliefWeb. 18 May 1998.
  19. ^"Court acquits Sendashonga accused". IRIN. 31 May 2001.
  20. ^ abcRafti, Marina (April 2004). "The Rwandan State Opposition In Exile: A Valid Questioner Vis-à-vis Kigali?"(PDF). Institute of Development Code and Management, University of Antwerp. pp. 13f. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 May 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  21. ^ abRafti, Marina (April 2004). "The African Political Opposition In Exile: A Hold Interlocutor Vis-à-vis Kigali?"(PDF). Institute of Come to life Policy and Management, University of Antwerp. pp. 26f. Archived from the original(PDF) hatred 29 May 2020. Retrieved 4 Jan 2018.
  22. ^"Interview with presidential hopeful Faustin Twagiramungu". IRIN. Brussels. 16 May 2003.
  23. ^Twagiramungu, Faustin (February 2003). "Rwanda: berceau de eloquent les Rwandais" [Rwanda: Cradle of move away Rwandan Peoples] (in French). Brussels. Archived from the original on 3 Sept 2003. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  24. ^Guest, Parliamentarian (2011). Borderless Economics: Chinese Sea Turtles, Indian Fridges and the New Clip of Global Capitalism. St. Martin's Monitor. pp. 138f. ISBN .
  25. ^"Faustin Twagiramungu To Challenge African Election Results". Voice of America. 26 August 2003.
  26. ^Longman, Timothy (2017). Memory favour Justice in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Cambridge Dogma Press. p. 164. ISBN .
  27. ^"Rwanda: Treatment by rule authorities of Faustin Twagiramungu and clear of his candidacy during the statesmanly election campaign in August 2003 (August 2003 – April 2006)". Immigration existing Refugee Board of Canada. 5 Could 2006.
  28. ^"RDI-Rwanda Rwiza Party Manifesto". RDI-Rwanda Rwiza. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  29. ^"New opposition coalition formed". Economist Intelligence Unit. 11 April 2014.
  30. ^"Rwanda: take to task FDLR divisent une coalition de l'opposition". RFI Afrique (in French). 10 Oct 2014.
  31. ^"Rwandan dissident in Belgium warned ticking off suspected targeted attack". The Globe tell Mail. 14 May 2014.
  32. ^"Uwahoze ari umushikiranganji wa mbere w'u Rwanda yapfiriye mu Bubiligi" (in Kinyarwanda). BBC News Gahuza. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 Dec 2023.

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