A. Flights to Exile (non exhaustive list):
1.Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Habyarimana, who was Minister of Defense until November 2002, and Lieut. Col. Balthazar Ndengeyinka, one of the army representatives to the assembly, fled Rwanda on March 30,
2.Lieutenant Colonel NDENGEYINKA, Army High Officer and Member of the Parliament
3.Lieutenant Alphonse Ndayambaje, Army Officer
4.Kajeguhakwa Valens, Member of the Parliament and Businesman now living in the USA
5.Rwigema P.Célestin, Prime Minister now living in the USA
6.Twagiramungu Faustin, Prime Minister now living in Belgium
7.Ndagijimana J.M.Vianney, Foreign Affairs Minister now living in France
8.Mukamurenzi Marthe, Minister of Justice now living in Europe
9.Madame Béatrice Panda, Secretary of State of Interior Ministry now living in Europe
10.Sebarenzi Joseph, Speaker of the Parliament now living in the USA
11.Nkuriyingoma, Minister of Information now living in Belgium
12.Musangamfura Sixbert, Head of Intelligence Services now living in Europe
13.Major Ntashamaje Gerard, Army Officer now living in Europe
14.Major Furuma Alphonse, Army Officer and Member of Parliament now living in the USA
15.Major Kwikiriza, Army Officer now living in Europe
16.Sisi Evariste, Member of Parliament and Businessman now living in Holland
17.Rutagengwa Bosco, former Chairman of Survival association (IBUKA) and Director of BP-FINA now living in the USA
18.Murumba Anastase, Executive Secretary of Ibuka now living in Canada
19.Kayijaho Josué, Chairman of Human Rights Organization (CLADHO) and Deputy Chairman of IBUKA now living in Canada
20.Madame Kajangwe Emeritte, Chairman of Women Organization (Mamans sportive)
21.Niyibizi Hoséa, Director of Genocide Survival Funds (FARG) now living in Canada
22.Mugabe J.Pierre, Journalist and owner of the newspaper "le Tribun du Peuple" now living in the USA
23.Mbonimpa J.M.Vianney, Rwandan Ambassador in Switzerland and now living there
24.Ndahayo Eugène, Director of Cabinet in the Ministry of Information now living in France
25.Nkundiyaremye Alype, Vice-President of the Supreme Court died in exile in Belgium
26.Iyakaremye Bosco, President of Premiere Instance Court now living in Canada
27.Kayihura Edouard, Prosecutor of Kigali in the Specialized Chamber for genocide crimes now living in USA
28.Nyilinkindi Antoine, Rwandan Ambassador in Kinshasa now living in Europe
29.Mfizi Christophe, Rwandan Ambassador in Paris now living in France
30.Rwiyamirira J.Bosco, Secretary of Rwandan Embassy in Ottawa now living in Canada
31.Nkurunziza David, Rwandan Diplomat Islaël now living in Canada
32.Mutsinzi Edouard, Journalist and owner of the newspaper "le Messager" now living in Belgium.
33.Mushayidi Déo, Journalist now living in Belgium
34.Kagiraneza Deus, former governor and Member of the Parliament now living in Belgium
35.Brig. Gen. Rusatira Leonidas, Army High Officer now living in Belgium
36. Major Jeanne Ndamage, Army Officer now living in Belgium
37.Karuhije Ignace, Governor of Ruhengeri now living in Europe
38.Mgr Ruhumuliza Aaron, Bishop of EER Kigali
39.Mgr Jeered Kalimba, Bishop of Shyogwe
40.Amiel Nkuliza, Journalist now living in Europe
41.Valens Kwitegetse, Journalist of Catholic Church Newspaper-kinyamateka
42.Philibert Muzima, journalist living now in Canada
43.Depite Nkelinka Eustache, Member of the Parliament now living in Germany
44.Mberabahizi JB, Member of the Parliament living now in Europe
45.Nkubito J.Claude, journalist living now in Europe
46.Muhawenimana Jason. Journalist and owner of the newspaper "Imboni"
47.Ngarukiye Leon, High Officer in High Education Ministry now living in Danemark
48.Ambasador Insonere Pierre, High Officer in Foreign Affairs Ministry now living in France
49.Ephrem Gasasira, President of the Court of Appeal of Nyabisindu (Nyanza) now living in Belgium
50.Paul Rusesabagina, General Manager of Diplomat Hotel at Kigali now living in Belgium
51.Theobald GAKWAYA RWAKA, Minister of Interior now living in the USA
52. Major Mupende, Army Officer now living in the USA.
B. Disappeared and Crushed Persons.
1.On April 3, Damien Musayidizi "disappeared" on his way home from work. A former army sergeant, he had been Gen. Habyarimana's secretary at the ministry of defense.
2.On April 4, a Kigali shopkeeper, Jean-Marie Vianney Nkulikiyinka, was taken from his shop at about 10 p.m. by unidentified persons and has not been heard from since.
3.On April 7, Dr. Leonard Hitimana, a Member of the Parliament, "disappeared" between 8 and 9 p.m. apparently after having left the home of another Member of the Parliament in the Remera section of Kigali. The police announced that Hitimana's car had been found near the Ugandan frontier, but his family rejected any suggestion that he might have driven there at night, left his vehicle, and fled across the border. Dr. Hitimana is one of those MDR members whose record calls into question assertions about the genocidal nature of the party. He is widely acknowledged to have tried to save Tutsi during the genocide and has testified in trials against persons accused of genocide.1
4.On April 23, Lieut. Col. Augustin Cyiza, a demobilized officer of the Rwandan army, formerly President of the Supreme Court of Appeal and Vice-President of the Supreme Court, "disappeared" after having taught a law class at the University of Central Africa in Kigali. He failed to respond to calls on his cellular telephone and his vehicle apparently disappeared from the city streets. Initial inquiries to police and judicial authorities elicited no information about his whereabouts, but some days later police reportedly told Cyiza's family that his vehicle had been found in the northwestern district of Butaro, near the Ugandan frontier. The police spokesman, Tony Kuramba, told others that Cyiza's vehicle was found in Nkumba district, adjacent to Butaro. According to witnesses, however, his vehicle was seen the night of his "disappearance" in the Kanombe military camp.
5.A university student and cantonal judge from the court of Nyamata named Eliezer Runyaruka left the university with Cyiza on April 23 and have also not been heard from since. When his relatives appealed to police for information they were reportedly told that Eliezer "had been in league with Cyiza" and had fled the country with him. Eliezer was a Munyamulenge, a Kinyarwanda speaking person from the Congo. The Banyamulenge are generally counted as Tutsi. Cyiza regularly transported Eliezer to and from the university.
C. From Rwandan Patriotic Front dictatorship regime:
Rwandan President and Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Chairman Gen. Paul Kagame threatened his rival and others in several recent speeches. On March 31, 2003, Kagame told listeners that elections would be "carried out peacefully and in a transparent manner." But in an apparent reference to Twagiramungu and perhaps other contenders, he continued:
I can even say that the outcomes of these elections are known. Those elected will be individuals who are 100 per cent in line with the current political agenda, aimed at building the country. This will be the case, and I am sure that it is also your view and your wish to have national security, unity, development and democracy. Anyone who would bring in division-because I know that the views of those who intend to come back are based on division-will not be elected.
In the same speech he warned that he would "wound" anyone who failed to understand and heed his message against "divisionism." In a threatening metaphor, he said that anyone who expected to profit from the "sorghum ".
"We have enough machines to crush the grains...." said Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on the occasion of International Water Day, Rebero, Bwisige, Byumba, March 31, 2003.
"Any divisionism will be smashed-not with a hammer. But you are adults, you know what I mean," pursued the President of Rwanda
That kind of militarism forced high skilled people into exile from Rwanda, a less-developed country to developed country. In the case of Rwanda, how can be qualified that kind of brain drain mainly caused by unfavorable political climate? Here are a few illustrative examples in only eight years, some of them really current.
To understand the current Rwandan quagmire, I advise to read the following HRW report: "Preparing for Elections: Tightening Control in the Name of Unity Human Rights Watch Backgrounder, May 8, 2003".
By: Pierre Celestin RWIGEMA, Former Prime Minister of Rwanda.
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, sentiments, and opinions expressed in this document are those of Pierre Celestin Rwigema and NOT of Africa's Brain Gain, its employees or its executives.