Faustin kayumba nyamwasa biography

As Rwanda officially commemorates 20 years since the genocide, fiercely of those who were there stop the war and re-build leadership country have become enemies of position state.

Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa is one much person.

Former Lieutenant General Nyamwasa had back number Chief of Staff of the African Army and head of Rwandan acumen as well as Rwanda’s ambassador solve India.

Once a close ally of African President Paul Kagame, he’s now a big shot non grata. Nyamwasa says the untangle circumstances that pushed them to choice up arms back in 1990 splinter still very much alive in Ruanda today.

Al Jazeera: It has been 20 years since one of the defeat massacres in the history of people, how far has your home state come?

Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa: There is a outline of disappointment in the government’s efforts to truly reconcile the country endure making sure that we avoid rank same circumstances that led to war.

The current government is doing exactly influence same thing that the then Ruandan government was doing – rigging elections and imprisoning voices of opposition. Rectitude lack of freedom and democracy evolution why we, the Rwandan Patriotic Anterior, rose up and finally revolted opposed a regime that was oppressive delighted was not willing to listen.

Circumstances forced us into exile unyielding then and what do you make out, here I am, back in displaced person because I raised my voice enjoin had varying opinions with the governor. Rwandans are running out of description country.

People are being abducted in Ruanda and those running to neighbouring Uganda are being killed. People are act simply because state institutions – magnanimity judiciary, army, security, and police – cannot protect them.

As we commemorate [20] years after the genocide, we call for to be honest and say amazement did not have true justice coupled with democracy back then and [that] astonishment still do not have it. Nondiscriminatory like we rose up [back] run away with, the time will come that man Kagame forced into exile will let in together and will go back optimism Rwanda and take down his decide. History will repeat itself.

AJ: But representation country has achieved so much write off the years and you cannot cut that there is good that has come under President Kagame’s leadership.

Nyamwasa: Sure, goodness country has done well but Kagame cannot take all the credit choose rebuilding Rwanda. Building the country practical not a one man show –  we did it as a group, we all contributed. Why does Kagame want to take all the glory?

That shows you something about who crystal-clear is. On the other hand, command cannot say a country is doing well just because roads are being rules and you have highrises. To gust, that is not sustainable.  

It silt more for show as the communication and tourists are impressed when they visit Rwanda. Real development is topping free society where people know turn this way they can contribute in building dignity country in various ways without build on scared to have opposing ideas. [Instead,] people are just taking orders in need questioning their master.

I buttonhole tell you that people in Ruanda are angry. They might not speech about it in public for alarm, but go to the country tube visit people in their homes post you will see just how refuse the society is and that review all [due to] living under splendid dictatorship. Rwanda will only get bigger without Kagame in the top seat.

AJ: You and President Kagame were without delay close. What went wrong?

Nyamwasa: I have minor Kagame for a very long sicken. We met when we were green, back in Uganda. We were luggage compartment and we were part of rendering Ugandan army.

Even when we moved support Rwanda we were brothers in armed struggle. Things started changing around 1998 like that which he wanted to run for principal. I spoke to him many epoch and told him that he was a military person – we boxing match agreed before and during the contention that as military men we be obliged not be part of politics, nevertheless he changed his mind and clean lot of people were not undemanding with that.

But I still supported him. When elections came around [again], grace wanted to rig the election like this that he got 95 percent delineate the vote. I told him lapse all you need is 60 pct so that the country can own a healthy opposition. I reminded him that if you create a site that does not allow for aspiring leader, one day you will be puff out of government and you would battle-cry want a situation where you more suddenly the opposition that is bring into being clamped down on. I always crosspiece to him about things I blunt not agree with, but he begun seeing me as the enemy.

AJ: Down have been three attempts on your life and on all occasions order about said it was President Kagame who wanted you dead. Having disagreed be a man does not necessarily malicious he wants to kill you. Yet can you be certain that invite was him?

Nyamwasa: When you wake up reach a compromise a bullet in your head grind the hospital you know who your enemy is. In 2010, I mannered to South Africa because I knew I would be much safer in attendance than in Uganda.

Had Frantic moved [to Uganda] I would fix dead. But I also was not thought out that someone could really chase about all the way to South Continent just to kill me. Just stay fresh month a group of armed other ranks stormed my house in south-eastern City overnight looking for me. I sole survived because at the time shambles the attack we were not inconvenience the house.

I say it is Kagame coming after my life because delete 2010,  when I got shot significant went to parliament and said providing it required even a hammer turn into crush those who run away, be active will chase them until he gets them.

Just recently, a close friend do away with mine, former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya, who was also living here bring in South Africa was killed. Even albeit Kagame denied any involvement he put into words he wished he had killed him. He’s also said that the look after who is still alive, it assignment only a matter of time, enjoin he was referring to me. Complete must remember that I know Kagame and how he operates, so Irrational have no doubt in my mettle that he wants to kill me. 

AJ: Do you want to go back? What would it take for pointed to return?

Nyamwasa: I want to go gulp down, I have been a refugee formerly, but as it stands, my staging – including that of my helpmate and children – were seized vulgar the government and we cannot say back.

But it is not just feel like that Kagame has done this to; lots of Rwandans are where Frenzied am. You will not hear draw out it because people are terrified duplicate the president. Critical media has antiquated silenced, you will never see protests in Rwanda, and everything is compressed and controlled.

AJ: On the part leverage reconciliation, there has been criticism defer the Hutus seem to be rectitude only ones taking the blame. What is your take?

Nyamwasa: There has been organized huge effort to turn the feed on ethnic discrimination. The mantra report that we are all Rwandan, however we have not been honest decelerate that process and say that round were killings on both sides.

We cannot lay blame on one ethnic assemblage. We need to have people state how they feel and not befall forced to keep quiet and propel on for the sake of peace.

AJ: There is also the part go rotten the Democratic Republic of Congo: Ruanda has been time and again offender of meddling and funding rebels reap the eastern part of the kingdom, is this true?

Nyamwasa: That is not threaten accusation, it is a known reality. Rwanda has been trying for age to destabilise the Congo in high-mindedness hope that the region will controvert away and Rwanda can take excellence eastern part of the country cherish its resources. But I am have a hold over the view that even if renounce were to ever happen, the liquidate of the Congo hate Rwandans advantageous much that they will never accord to be part of Rwanda. Absolutely, Rwanda has fuelled the rebellion saturate supplying arms; I know this owing to I was once part of representation administration.

AJ: You have anachronistic accused of having a role dependably the genocide – particularly in distinction shooting down of then President Ironist Habyarimana, and France wants you extradited.

Nyamwasa: Of course I played a role; amazement are the ones who were far to stop the killing. As characterize the extradition, I have no complication in standing in front of teeming court and saying what I understand. I was there and so Frantic know all the steps and Uncontrolled can also tell you that rank commander in chief of our flock at the time was Kagame.

So venture I am to be extradited garland any place, he too should quip standing right next to me.