André Kagwa Rwisereka (1949–2010) was a Rwandan businessman and political activist who became a prominent, outspoken opposition figure to the government of President Paul Kagame. His gruesome murder in 2010 intensified international alarm over the shrinking democratic space in Rwanda.
Advertisement
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | André Kagwa Rwisereka (often rendered as André Kagawa) |
| Born | c. 1949 |
| Died | July 2010 (aged c. 61), Butare, Rwanda |
| Political Party | Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) (Vice-President) |
| Pre-Political Career | Businessman (long history with the RPF) |
| Cause of Death | Assassination (Found nearly decapitated) |
| Significance | His murder was linked by many human rights organizations to a campaign of repression against political opposition in Rwanda. |
Political History and Opposition
-
RPF Veteran: Rwisereka was an ethnic Hutu who had a deep, long-standing history with the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). He lived in exile during the 1994 Genocide and returned to Rwanda with the RPF, becoming a successful businessman in the aftermath of the conflict.
Advertisement
-
Break with the RPF: He later broke with the RPF over its increasingly authoritarian policies and the lack of democratic space in the country.
-
Founding the Opposition: In 2009, he became the Vice-President and co-founder of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), one of the few opposition parties brave enough to challenge the RPF’s dominance ahead of the 2010 presidential election. The DGPR advocated for non-violence, environmental protection, and genuine democratic reform.
The Assassination (2010)
Rwisereka’s death occurred at a critical time when the government was heavily restricting the ability of opposition groups to register and campaign for the upcoming 2010 election.
-
Disappearance: Rwisereka was reported missing on July 13, 2010, after he disappeared from his business in Butare.
-
Discovery of the Body: His body was found the following day, severely mutilated and nearly decapitated, near a riverbank in the Huye district of Southern Province. His car and passport were found later.
-
Political Motive: The circumstances of his death, particularly the brutal nature of the murder and the political context, led the DGPR and major human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, to immediately suspect a politically motivated assassination intended to silence the opposition.
-
Official Response: The Rwandan government strongly denied any involvement, and the police stated that the motive appeared to be robbery, though nothing was taken from his person. No one was ever convicted for his murder.
André Kagwa Rwisereka’s murder remains one of the most cited examples of the violence and intimidation faced by those who dare to challenge the ruling establishment in post-genocide Rwanda.