Colonel Alexis Kanyarengwe (1938[2]–2006) was a Rwandan officer who fled Rwanda in 1980 amidst accusations that he was plotting against Juvénal Habyarimana.
Kanyarengwe rose to power as one of the officers who led a coup on July 5, 1973, that toppled then President Grégoire Kayibanda, installing Habyarimana.[2] He was appointed Minister of the Interior in the new government, and reportedly rose to the number two position.[2] In December 1980 he came under suspicion of fomenting a coup against Habyarimana and fled into exile in Tanzania.[2]
In September 1990, after three years of convincing, Kanyarengwe joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), following a meeting with Aloisea Inyumba.[2] This is despite his being a Hutu and the RPF being made primarily of Tutsi in exile.[3] The effect of his defection in Rwanda led to Habyarimana cracking down further on internal opposition.[3]
Kanyarengwe joined the RPF as its vice president, but quickly rose up the ranks. In October 1990, RPF founder Fred Rwigyema was killed in mysterious circumstances, possibly by his deputy Pierre Bayingana. Bayingana was himself assassinated by forces loyal to Rwigyema.[2] In the fallout of these events, Kanyarengwe was thrust into the presidency.[2]
However, real power was thought to be held by RPF vice president Paul Kagame.[2][4]
On 28 March 1997, Kanyarengwe was sacked from his post as Interior minister after protesting Rwandan Patriotic Army massacres in his home prefecture of Ruhengeri. Ignace Karuhije, who also protested, was removed on the same day. On 15 February 1998, Kanyarengwe was finally replaced by Paul Kagame as chairman of the RPF.[4]
^ abMukombozi, Robert (14 November 2006). "Rwanda: Kanyarengwe Dead". The New Times. Kigali. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
^ abcdefgh"Rwanda – juillet 1994 : que sont devenus les « Hommes d'union nationale »? (2ème partie) - Jambonews FR". www.jambonews.net. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
^ abReyntjens, Filip (2013). Political Governance in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 18, 80. ISBN978-1-107-67879-8.
External linksedit
Rwanda - July 1994: what became of the "Men of National Unity"?
January 01, 1970
alexis, kanyarengwe, colonel, 1938, 2006, rwandan, officer, fled, rwanda, 1980, amidst, accusations, that, plotting, against, juvénal, habyarimana, colonelborn1938, ruhengeri, province, ruanda, urundidied13, november, 2006, kigali, rwandapolitical, partyrwanda. Colonel Alexis Kanyarengwe 1938 2 2006 was a Rwandan officer who fled Rwanda in 1980 amidst accusations that he was plotting against Juvenal Habyarimana ColonelAlexis KanyarengweBorn1938 1 Ruhengeri province Ruanda UrundiDied13 November 2006 1 Kigali RwandaPolitical partyRwanda Patriotic Front Kanyarengwe rose to power as one of the officers who led a coup on July 5 1973 that toppled then President Gregoire Kayibanda installing Habyarimana 2 He was appointed Minister of the Interior in the new government and reportedly rose to the number two position 2 In December 1980 he came under suspicion of fomenting a coup against Habyarimana and fled into exile in Tanzania 2 In September 1990 after three years of convincing Kanyarengwe joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front RPF following a meeting with Aloisea Inyumba 2 This is despite his being a Hutu and the RPF being made primarily of Tutsi in exile 3 The effect of his defection in Rwanda led to Habyarimana cracking down further on internal opposition 3 Kanyarengwe joined the RPF as its vice president but quickly rose up the ranks In October 1990 RPF founder Fred Rwigyema was killed in mysterious circumstances possibly by his deputy Pierre Bayingana Bayingana was himself assassinated by forces loyal to Rwigyema 2 In the fallout of these events Kanyarengwe was thrust into the presidency 2 However real power was thought to be held by RPF vice president Paul Kagame 2 4 On 28 March 1997 Kanyarengwe was sacked from his post as Interior minister after protesting Rwandan Patriotic Army massacres in his home prefecture of Ruhengeri Ignace Karuhije who also protested was removed on the same day On 15 February 1998 Kanyarengwe was finally replaced by Paul Kagame as chairman of the RPF 4 See also editRwandan Civil WarReferences edit a b Mukombozi Robert 14 November 2006 Rwanda Kanyarengwe Dead The New Times Kigali Retrieved 29 November 2017 a b c d e f g h Rwanda juillet 1994 que sont devenus les Hommes d union nationale 2eme partie Jambonews FR www jambonews net Retrieved 2019 04 10 a b Des Forges Alison March 1999 Leave None to Tell the Story Genocide in Rwanda History Consolidating the Opposition New York Human Rights Watch ISBN 1 56432 171 1 a b Reyntjens Filip 2013 Political Governance in Post Genocide Rwanda Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 18 80 ISBN 978 1 107 67879 8 External links editRwanda July 1994 what became of the Men of National Unity Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexis Kanyarengwe amp oldid 1144611246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
