Inside Kagame's Power Struggle: Rwanda's Rise and Political Elimination

Paul Kagame, born on October 23, 1957, is a Rwandan politician and former military major general who has served as the President of Rwanda since 2000. Raised as a refugee in Uganda for nearly thirty years, Kagame’s ascent to power is deeply tied to the region's military and political upheavals. His rise began after the National Resistance Army (NRA), a guerrilla rebel group led by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, overthrew the Ugandan government of Milton Obote and Tito Okello Rutwa in 1986. Kagame, then a Major in the Ugandan Army, was appointed as the head of military intelligence, a role that earned him the nickname “Pilato” among Ugandans. He later continued his training at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The turning point in Kagame’s political trajectory came when Major General Fred Rwigyema, the highest-ranking Rwandan officer in the Ugandan Army and a loyalist to Museveni, mobilized Rwandan refugees who had joined the Ugandan Army. Rwigyema aimed to launch a liberation movement against the government of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, led by the MRND political party, and to fight for the right of refugees to return to their homeland.

On October 1, 1990, Rwigyema and his comrades, including Lt. Col. Adam Nsekanabo Wasswa, Maj. Dr. Peter Bayingana, Maj. Chris Bunyenyezi, Maj. John Kabuula, Maj. Sam Byaruhanga, Maj. Ndugute and Maj. Kaka Kanyemera, among others, launched an attack on Rwanda. Despite initial success, with the rebels advancing rapidly up to Gabiro within three days, Rwigyema was assassinated on October 2, 1990, along with other senior leaders like Bayingana and Bunyenyezi. The death of Rwigyema, who was both a mentor and a childhood friend to Kagame, demoralized the rebel forces. In an interview, Kagame recounted a dream he had while at his military course in Kansas, which urged him to return to the struggle. Upon learning of Rwigyema's death, Kagame abandoned his course and joined the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) in November 1990.

At the time of his return, Kagame found the RPA forces demoralized and in disarray. With key leaders lost, the remaining rebels were determined to continue the fight. Captain Ludovik Dodo launched an attack on the Gatuna border, and Captain Vedaste Kayitare executed a prison break in Ruhengeri, releasing political prisoners from the Habyarimana regime, including Colonel Biseruka, Major Theoneste Lizinde, and Commander Muvunanyabo. As the political chief, Kagame declared a guerrilla war against the Rwandan government, with military support from top Ugandan officials, who provided strategic planning and weaponry.

The RPA's military strategy, led by Lt. Col. Wasswa, was marked by tactical division of forces. A large contingent was stationed at strategic locations in the Muhabura, Gahunga, and Sabyinyo mountains (Rugano), while other forces were positioned in Uganda near the Rwanda-Uganda border in districts like Kamwezi, Muvumba, Kalama, Kabalogota, and Maziba. Wasswa’s deputy, Major Ndugutse, commanded forces in the Mutara region, employing hit-and-run tactics with minimal resistance. By 1991, a high command meeting was convened in Birunga (Gahunga), where it was decided to move forces from Muhabura to the nearby border of Butaro province, an area known as Urugano rwa Bishop.

As the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) continued its struggle for control over Rwanda, the internal power dynamics among its leadership began to intensify. Most of the forces, including Captain Vedaste Kayitare’s Delta Mobile Forces, were moved to Rugano, while the battalions led by Captain Kizza Willex remained in the Muhabura Axis. In Rugano, tensions among the senior commanders began to mount, with figures like Lt. Col. Adam Nsekanabo Wasswa, Major Sam Byaruhanga, Captain Kayitare, and others planning coordinated attacks on the Rwandan government’s defenses near the Ugandan border.

At this point, Kagame, who had taken on the role of Chief Political Commissar (CPC), shared a defense post with Lt. Col. Adam, with both men living nearby. This close-quarters environment, however, was not without tension. When a general parade was called, Kagame expected to be formally acknowledged by Lt. Col. Adam, but instead, Adam left the scene abruptly. This action triggered a conflict among other commanders, some of whom felt that Kagame, as the Political Commissar, should have been shown greater respect. The situation escalated, with Major Sam’s escorts reportedly being flogged Senior Officer Gashumba, an incident that deepened the rift between Kagame and some of his fellow commanders, including General Kayumba Nyamwasa, head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).

In the wake of these tensions, Major Sam Byaruhanga convened a crisis meeting with the rebel leadership to discuss the way forward. The meeting was attended by Lt. Col. Adam, Major Sam Byaruhanga, Captain Kayitare, his deputy Captain Karangwa Kadogo, Captain Gashumba, and other senior officers. The group decided to escalate their efforts against the Rwandan government, aiming to occupy large areas in Rwanda and apply pressure for the government’s surrender. Major Sam then traveled to Kisoro, Uganda, where he met with the Uganda Commanding Officer of the 131 Battalion, Captain God, who assured him of military support, including weapons and covering fire. Major Sam returned with a semi-trailer full of military equipment, including Katyusha rockets and mortars, and the planning for attacks began in earnest.

The RPA launched attacks on several key areas, including Kyeru, Butaro, Kidaho, and Kivuye, intending to cut off the Kigali-Ruhengeri route, a critical supply line for the Rwandan government. Ruhengeri town was bombed with Katyusha rockets in a show of force. However, two days later, the FAR (Rwandan Armed Forces) reorganized and launched a counterattack, humiliating the RPA forces. The RPA was forced to retreat into Uganda, and even their base headquarters was bombed. In response to the setbacks, Major Kagame withdrew to Mbarara, Uganda, to regroup.

Following this defeat, Lt. Col. Adam received a message calling him to meet Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala. This prompted him to follow Kagame’s lead, and both men traveled to Mbarara, at RPF Chairman Alex Kanyarengwe. There, Lt. Col. Adam was instructed to change vehicles and board a Pajero with Captain Dr. Kalemera and Lt. Dan. According to reports, the vehicle change was part of a staged accident that occurred along the Rukaya district towards the Kampala Highway.

Three days later, some RPA mobile forces were ordered to move to the Umutara Axis, including Captain Kayitare’s Delta Mobile Forces and Major Sam’s Alpha Mobile Forces. During the night, while traveling in trucks, Major Sam, who was in a Land Rover Jeep, encountered a military truck parked at the Bufundi trading center. Upon inquiry, it is reported that Captain Banga shot and killed Major Sam, further deepening the tensions within the RPA.

The assassinations of several senior commanders, including Major Sam Byaruhanga, polarized the RPA to the point where Captain Kayumba’s DMI launched operations to eliminate those opposed to Kagame’s control of the RPA. The internal divisions became more evident during a general meeting convened by Kagame in the Kabaragota banana plantations. There, Major Ndugutse and Captain Kayitare questioned the mysterious deaths of top commanders, but Kagame managed to calm the situation, convincing the commanders to focus their efforts on continuing the pressure on the Rwandan government.

This period of internal conflict within the RPA set the stage for the brutal political environment that would define Kagame’s rule. The purging of rivals and the strategic elimination of key military figures were integral to Kagame’s consolidation of power. Rwanda’s political future was shaped not only by the military struggle against Habyarimana’s government but also by the ruthless political maneuvering within Kagame’s ranks.

Before the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) and MRND (Mouvement Républicain National pour la Démocratie) could meet for peace talks in Arusha, Tanzania, Rwanda had already experienced immense suffering, including the creation of refugee camps like Nyacyonga. The RPA had gained control over key areas such as Mulindi in Byumba district, Gishari, Butaro, and Umutara. As the military reorganized, many senior officers, including S/O Mico, S/O Kayitare, S/O Gashumba, S/O Mico, S/O Karangwa, and Captain Dr. Katimbo, were mysteriously eliminated, while S/O Kizza Willex was arrested and demoted from Colonel to Second Lieutenant.

The legacy of these power struggles continues to haunt Rwanda. Kagame’s rise to power, marked by military success and the elimination of rivals, established a precedent for a regime that has remained tightly controlled, with dissent and opposition viewed as threats to the state.

Before the tragic plane crash that killed Rwandan President Habyarimana on April 4, 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) forces were poised to enter Kigali. Six hundred RPA soldiers had already been transferred to the capital, alongside an RPF administration delegation, in anticipation of the Arusha Peace Talks. These talks aimed to form an inclusive new government, one that would combine the country’s major political parties, including the ruling MRND, PSD, MDR, PDI, and RPF. Despite the hopes of peace, Rwanda witnessed large-scale massacres as the RPF radio, Radio Muhabura, condemned the government’s killings and disappearances of opposition figures.

When President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down, it set off a chain of events that escalated into the genocide. The plane crash, which also killed Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira and FAR Army commander Major General Nsabimana Gaspar, sparked mass violence across Rwanda. Many blamed the RPA forces, who had already entered Kigali, for fueling the conflict and attempting to stop the genocide. In the wake of Habyarimana’s death, the RPA seized control of the country, marking the beginning of a new political era.

In July 1994, the RPF formed a new government, choosing a Hutu, Pasteur Bizimungu, as president, while Kagame, a Tutsi, assumed the vice-presidency. A moderate Hutu, Faustin Twagiramungu, was appointed prime minister, creating a Unity Government in line with the Arusha Peace Agreement. The new government included ministers from opposition political parties, ensuring a mix of Hutu and Tutsi representation.

However, the months following the formation of the new government revealed deep dissatisfaction with Kagame’s ruling doctrine. Opposition leaders began to question the RPF’s approach, which seemed to involve eliminating political rivals. Citizens continued to be killed or disappeared mysteriously, and the Kibeho refugee camp massacre in 1995 became a notorious example of this brutal repression. As Kagame focused on consolidating his power, he began systematically eliminating what he perceived as “military bad seeds,” sidelining historical RPA commanders such as Colonel Ngoga, Colonel Bagire, Kizza Willex, Colonel Kizza, Colonel Ndugute, among others.

In addition to purging former military leaders, Kagame’s rise was further fueled by the presence of Burundian royalist forces, who had initially joined the RPA. These forces eventually became part of the newly established Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), with many top commanders such as General Frank Rusagara, Colonel Tom Byabagamba, and Colonel Rugigana, historicals being forced into prison. The ongoing operations to eliminate those perceived as threats continued, with figures like Colonel Theoneste Lizinde and Colonel Patrick Karegeya falling victim to Kagame’s political purge.

Within the RPF, tensions were also rising. The parliamentary cadres accused President Bizimungu of concocting charges against him, which ultimately led to his impeachment. Kagame, now fully in control, became the president of Rwanda in 2000. His first election in 2003 saw him emerge victorious with a staggering 99% of the vote, cementing his iron grip on the country.

The Kagame administration has never tolerated dissent, with critics being silenced either through intimidation or outright repression. The government stifled independent journalism and curtailed the activities of civil society organizations. Former President Bizimungu, for instance, was convicted and later pardoned for forming the political party PDR-Ubuyanja, an act that was deemed a threat to Kagame’s rule. Under this regime, even the Hutu population has been prevented from mourning their loved ones, as the state continues to politicize the tragedy of the genocide.

Moreover, the genocide itself has been used as a political tool, with the RPF justifying its elimination of opposition figures and critics as part of a broader national security effort. Rwandan citizens have been sent to fight in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) without the country’s consent or parliamentary approval, with military personnel deployed beyond Rwanda’s borders under Kagame’s orders, without accountability for the repercussions.

The DRC conflict, exacerbated by Kagame’s interventions, has become one of the deadliest and most prolonged in African history. Over 5 million people have died in the DRC conflict, and more than 4 million have been displaced. The UN experts estimate that the war, fueled by Kagame’s government, is one of the largest humanitarian crises in the history of Africa. Rwanda’s involvement in the DRC has led to international condemnation, with Western countries sanctioning Kagame’s administration. Recently, the International Criminal Court (ICC) proposed to investigate the conflict and open a tribunal to hold accountable those responsible for the grave human rights violations, including top Rwandan officials.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has long been associated with the transformation of his country, but his leadership also continues to be marked by a climate of fear, repression, and a relentless pursuit of political control. Recent remarks made by Kagame, including his speech calling on his superiors to “go to hell,” have further fueled concerns over his authoritarian rule. The President’s statement is a stark reminder of the ruthless nature of his leadership, as he declares his intent to harm anyone who dares to accuse him or his regime of complicity in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. This speech has raised alarm about the future of political freedom and the rule of law in Rwanda.

Kagame’s rhetoric against any mention of the 1994 genocide has escalated, underscoring the prevailing politics of elimination within his regime. For decades, the President has clamped down on dissent, not only silencing critics but ensuring that any conversation around the genocide that does not align with his government’s narrative is punished. The culture of fear under Kagame has led to the disappearance, imprisonment, and, in some cases, the assassination of those deemed to be political threats, especially former comrades who might question his leadership.

The recent remarks about eliminating those who speak out against his role during the genocide only underscore the deeply entrenched authoritarianism that defines his presidency. The question remains: Can President Kagame abandon the politics of elimination and allow every Rwandan the freedom of expression? Can he create a political space that allows for healthy debate, political pluralism, and reconciliation, not just in Rwanda but across its borders?

Rwanda’s future is at a crossroads. The country’s past, shaped by the tragedy of the genocide, continues to be used by the ruling government as both a tool for national unity and a weapon for political suppression. Kagame’s government controls the narrative surrounding the 1994 genocide, with little room for alternative viewpoints or critical discussion. For the Hutu population, who were often scapegoated in the aftermath of the genocide, the ability to mourn their lost loved ones without fear of being labeled as perpetrators of violence remains a distant hope.

Adding to this tragic story is the death of General Frank Rusagara, a former high-ranking officer in the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). Rusagara was accused of fabricating charges against himself and his colleague Colonel Tom Byabagamba, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, his conviction was just one piece of a larger narrative surrounding Kagame’s political purges. Rusagara was not just a military leader; he had been a close family ally to Kagame. Their families had shared personal bonds, attending birthday parties together and supporting each other through difficult times.

Despite their deep personal connection, Kagame allowed Rusagara to die under mysterious circumstances in a military prison. The death of Rusagara, along with the exiles and eliminations of other former military leaders like General Kayumba Nyamwasa and Colonel Patrick Karegeya, highlights the dangerous political landscape for any perceived rival to Kagame’s rule. According to sources close to the former RPA/F cadre, the fear surrounding Rusagara’s death was so intense that people had to hide their identities to attend his burial ceremony. These actions have led many to believe that no one, no matter how close they were to Kagame is safe under his regime.

Even retired military officers, once influential within the RDF, are not spared from the constant surveillance and intimidation by Kagame’s Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). The DMI’s reach extends far beyond Kigali, and the fear of reprisal for speaking out has stifled even those with significant power and influence within the military. This atmosphere of fear and intimidation is not just limited to Rwanda but has spread to foreign Rwandan missions, where those who oppose the Kagame administration face threats of elimination.

As Kagame’s grip on power tightens, the pressing question for Rwanda’s future remains: Will the President finally allow Rwandans the freedom to express their views without fear of retaliation? Can Rwanda begin to heal from its past and open the political space necessary for its citizens to discuss, mourn, and address the trauma of the 1994 genocide without it being used as a political weapon by the ruling elite?

The eliminationist politics that Kagame has employed for decades cannot be ignored. The international community, the Rwandan diaspora, and the citizens of Rwanda must come together to demand accountability for the crimes committed during and after the genocide. The legacy of fear, repression, and elimination must give way to a future where every Rwandan has the right to mourn their dead, speak their truth, and reclaim their agency in a democratic system where all voices matter.

The ultimate question remains: Can President Kagame shift away from this path of elimination and allow the Rwanda he built to become a true beacon of freedom, democracy, and healing for all its people, without any citizen or political group being oppressed or silenced in the name of power? Until that happens, the legacy of his regime will continue to haunt the nation, both internally and externally.

In a recent address during the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, President Paul Kagame reiterated his hardline stance against any external criticism of Rwanda’s leadership, particularly in relation to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kagame’s message was unequivocal: Rwanda will not bow to foreign pressures or sanctions imposed by the same powers that stood by as the genocide unfolded over three decades ago. He condemned external forces for continuing to promote ethnic divisions, both within Rwanda and in neighboring countries, referencing the DRC as a current example of such intervention. Kagame’s rhetoric, though framed as defiance against foreign interference, underscores the continued suppression of internal political dissent and the rejection of any form of reconciliation that does not align with his administration’s narrative.

Kagame’s speech not only echoed his long-standing narrative of self-determination but also reinforced the politics of elimination that have characterized his rule. By rejecting external criticism and reinforcing the view that Rwanda’s future must be solely determined by its people, Kagame is effectively silencing any internal opposition that questions the regime’s methods. This stance ignores the fact that true reconciliation requires the willingness to address the past openly, including the painful reality of Kagame’s role in the political purges that followed the genocide. His recent words, calling on Rwandans to “fight for what is yours” and to reject external influence, serve to perpetuate a culture of fear and division within the country. By portraying any dissent as a betrayal, Kagame continues to eliminate political rivals, even within his ranks, through purges that have forced former comrades, such as General Kayumba Nyamwasa and Colonel Patrick Karegeya, into exile or worse.

More Insight: President Paul Kagame's Speech During the 31st Genocide Commemoration in Kigali

The politics of elimination have thus not only targeted external enemies but have systematically dismantled any space for internal political pluralism or public discourse. With Kagame’s government stifling opposition, including the imprisonment of figures like former President Pasteur Bizimungu for merely forming a political party, it is clear that the RPF’s regime is built on the silencing of any voices that might challenge the status quo. Kagame’s rhetoric, while aimed at reinforcing national pride and unity, simultaneously undermines the very essence of democratic values, freedom of speech, political competition, and the right to mourn without fear of political retribution. The ongoing crackdown on critical voices, both domestic and foreign, has left many questioning whether Rwanda will ever be able to fully reconcile its dark past with its present reality without continuing the politics of fear and elimination.