This article appears to contradict itself. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Paul Kagame
President of Rwanda
Incumbent
Assumed office  March 24, 2000
Preceded by	Pasteur Bizimungu
Born	October 23, 1957 (1957-10-23) (age 49) Gitarama, Rwanda
Political party	Rwandan Patriotic Front

Paul Kagame (born October 23, 1957) is the current President of Rwanda and the founder of the Rwandan Patriotic Front. He came to prominence as the leader of the guerrilla RPF army, whose invasion of Rwanda is often cited as one precipitating event of the Rwandan Genocide. The RPF's victory over the incumbent Hutu Power government in July 1994 effectively ended the genocide. As President of Rwanda, Kagame, along with Uganda, invaded the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998 (see Second Congo War), a conflict which has resulted in an estimated 3.8 million dead, a death toll not seen in wartime since World War II. Image File history File links Circle-contradict. ... Image File history File links Official_Photograph_of_Paul_Kagame. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Rwanda. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (84th in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pasteur Bizimungu (born 1950) was the President of Rwanda from July 19, 1994 until March 23, 2000. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gitarama is one of the 12 provinces (intara) of Rwanda and is situated in the centre of the country, to the west of the capital Kigali. ... The Rwandan Patriotic Front (also translated as: Rwandese Patriotic Front; or referred to as: Patriotic Front of Rwanda) abbreviated as RPF (also often referred to as FPR from French: Front patriotique rwandais) is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Rwanda. ... The Rwandan Patriotic Front (also translated as: Rwandese Patriotic Front; or referred to as: Patriotic Front of Rwanda) abbreviated as RPF (also often referred to as FPR from French: Front patriotique rwandais) is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. ... The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass extermination of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. ... Combatants Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Chad, Mai-Mai, Hutu-aligned forces Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Movement for the Liberation of Congo Congolese Rally for Democracy Tutsi-aligned forces Commanders Laurent-Désiré Kabila (Congo), Joseph Kabila (Congo), Sam Nujoma Robert Mugabe José Eduardo dos Santos Idriss D... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Early life

Kagame was born in Gitarama, Rwanda. In November 1959, an increasingly restive Hutu population, encouraged by Congo, sparked a revolt, resulting in the overthrow of Mwami Kigeri V Ndahindurwa, the last monarch. Gitarama is one of the 12 provinces (intara) of Rwanda and is situated in the centre of the country, to the west of the capital Kigali. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hutu are a Central African ethnic group, living mainly in Rwanda and Burundi. ... title for the King of Rwanda or the King of Burundi This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Kigeri V Ndahindurwa was King (Mwami) of Rwanda from 1959-1961. ...

During the 1959 revolt and its aftermath, more than 160,000 Tutsis fled to neighbouring countries. In all, some 20,000 Tutsis were killed. Kagame left with his family at the age of four and moved to Uganda with many other Tutsis. Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tutsi are one of three native peoples of the nations of Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa, the other two being the Twa and the Hutu. ...

Military service

His military career started in 1979, when he joined Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA) and spent years fighting as a guerrilla against the government of Milton Obote in what is commonly known in Uganda as the bush war. For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born c. ... The National Resistance Army (NRA) began as a guerilla army of Uganda in the 1980s, led by Yoweri Museveni. ... Look up guerrilla in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Obote pictured at the beginning of his second regime in 1980 Apollo Milton Obote (December 28, 1924, Apac, Uganda – October 10, 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa), Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966 and President of Uganda 1966-1971/1980-1985, was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence in... Combatants Uganda National Liberation Front (The national army of Uganda) National Resistance Army (guerilla rebels) Commanders Milton Obote General Oyite-Ojok Brigadier Opon Acak Brigadier Olara-Okello Yoweri Museveni Salim Saleh Steven Kashaka Joram Mugume Pecos Kuteesa Fred Rwigema The war in the bush (also known as the Luwero War...

On July 27, 1985, Milton Obote was ousted in a military coup led by Tito Okello. In 1986 the NRA succeeded in overthrowing Okello and the NRA leader Yoweri Museveni became President of Uganda. July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tito Okello (1914 - June 3, 1996) was the leader of Uganda from July 1985 until January 1986. ... Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born c. ... The President of Uganda is the head of state in Uganda. ...

President Paul Kagame shakes hands with U.S. President George W. Bush in the Oval Office in the White House.

This same year, Kagame was instrumental in forming, along with his close friend Fred Rwigema, the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF), which was composed mainly of expatriate Rwandan Tutsi soldiers that had also fought with the NRA; the RPF was also based in Uganda. Image File history File linksMetadata BUSHKA.jpg‎ http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata BUSHKA.jpg‎ http://www. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... The Oval Office from above The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Fred Gisa Rwigema (10 April 1957—2 October 1990), born Emmanuel Gisa (his name sometimes erroneously spelled as Fred Rwigyema (Kinyarwanda can not have a gy combination, as they morph into jy, pronounced as gy)), was a founding member of the Rwandese Patriotic Front and is considered a hero in... The Rwandese Patriotic Front or Rwandan Patriotic Front, abbreviated as RPF (also often referred to as FPR from French: Front patriotique rwandais), is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. ... The Tutsi are one of three native peoples of the nations of Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa, the other two being the Twa and the Hutu. ...

In 1986, Kagame became the head of military intelligence in the NRA, and was regarded as one of Museveni's closest allies. He also joined the official Ugandan military. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Military intelligence (abbreviated MI, int. ... The Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF)--previously the National Resistance Army--constitutes the armed forces of Uganda. ...

Rwandan invasions and genocide

Main article: Rwandan Genocide

In October 1990, while Kagame was participating in a military training program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the RPF invaded Rwanda. Only two days into the invasion, Rwigema was killed, making Kagame the military commander of the RPF. Despite initial successes, a force of French, Belgian, Rwandan, and Zairan soldiers forced the RPF to retreat. A renewed invasion was attempted in late 1991, but also had limited success. The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass extermination of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relates to specific useful skills obtained thru time. ... In 1827, Colonel Henry Leavenworth established a post on the bluffs overlooking the western bank of the Missouri River to protect the fur trade, safeguard commerce on the Santa Fe Trail and maintain the peace among the inhabitants. ... Motto: (French for Peace - Justice - Work) Anthem: Capital Kinshasa Language(s) French (Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba were national languages) Government Republic President  - 1965-1997 Mobutu Sese Seko Historical era Cold War  - Republic of Zaire October 27, 1971  - Seizure of power November 24, 1965  - Independence June 30, 1960  - Overthrow of Mobutu... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The invasion increased ethnic tension throughout the region, including in neighbouring Burundi where similar tensions existed. Peace talks between the RPF and the Rwandese government resulted in the Arusha accords, including political participation of the RPF in Rwanda. Despite the agreement, ethnic tensions still flared dangerously. The Arusha Accords (also known as the Arusha Peace Agreement, or the Arusha negotiations) were a set of five accords (or protocols) signed by the Rwandese Patriotic Front and the Government of Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania on 4 August 1993, ending the civil war. ...

On 6 April 1994, a plane carrying both the Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down by a surface-to-air missile as it approached Kigali airport. All on board were killed. The deaths immediately sparked the Rwandan Genocide and an estimated 800,000 - 1,000,000 Rwandans were killed. Kofi Annan described the UN's investigation of the downing of the plane (which failed to analyze the plane's black box voice recorder) as a "first-class foul-up".^[1] Kagame's RPF was attacked immediately after the incident, and as soon as word came to him of the genocidal acts, he launched an invasion of Rwanda. His invasion ended the genocide 100 days after it had started. As of 2006, the Kagame regime has not undertaken any investigation to find those behind the assassination. April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Cyprien Ntaryamira Cyprien Ntaryamira (March 6, 1955 - April 6, 1994), was President of Burundi from February 5, 1994 until he died in a plane crash April 6, 1994. ... Kigali, population 851,024 (2005), is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. ... The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass extermination of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian born diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006, serving two five-year terms. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... In aircraft, the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) are used to record aircraft and pilot behavior in order to analyze accidents, and are usually called black boxes by the news media. ...

Because French citizens died during the crash of the plane, an investigation was carried out by Jean-Louis Bruguière, a French judge, who controversially concluded that the shooting of the plane was ordered by Kagame. In November 2006 Jean-Louis Bruguière signed international indictments against nine of President Kagame's senior aides and accused Kagame of ordering the assassination of two African presidents (Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and his counterpart Cyprien Ntaryamira of Burundi). Kagame could not be indicted under French law (as a head-of-state he has immunity from prosecution) but he could be indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.^[2][3] Jean-Louis Bruguière is a French judge. ... Wanted poster for the ICTR The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is a court under the auspices of the United Nations for the prosecution of offenses committed in Rwanda during the genocide which occurred there during April, 1994, commencing on April 6. ...

The indictment was based upon the belief that the RPF was the only organization with the missiles that were used in the assassination.^[4] and corroborated by several witnesses including former intelligence RPF members, the most publicly known being Abdul Ruzibiza.^[5] The Association des Avocats de la Defence has also released a statement backing Jean-Louis Bruguière allegations.^[6][7]

The former chief prosecutor for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, Judge Richard Goldstone, stated that "Well I don't think that case has been made at all. It's a very political judgement and I don't believe that it's borne out by the evidence." .^[8]

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Kagame said he would co-operate with an impartial inquiry.

The Second Congo War

Main article: Second Congo War

Kagame was part of the cabinet of President Pasteur Bizimungu which came to power in the aftermath of the genocide. Kagame was made Vice President of Rwanda and Defense Minister. Bizimungu was also a member of the RPF, and as its military leader, Kagame was viewed as the power behind the throne, and eventually became President when Bizimungu was deposed in March 2000. Combatants Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Chad, Mai-Mai, Hutu-aligned forces Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Movement for the Liberation of Congo Congolese Rally for Democracy Tutsi-aligned forces Commanders Laurent-Désiré Kabila (Congo), Joseph Kabila (Congo), Sam Nujoma Robert Mugabe José Eduardo dos Santos Idriss D... This page contains a list of presidents of Rwanda. ... Pasteur Bizimungu (born 1950) was the President of Rwanda from July 19, 1994 until March 23, 2000. ... A defence minister (Commonwealth English) or defense minister (American English) is a cabinet portfolio (position) which regulates the armed forces in a sovereign nation. ...

In 1998, Rwanda got heavily involved in the Second Congo War, supporting a well-armed rebel group in Congo, the Congolese Rally for Democracy. Together with Uganda, Rwandan forces invaded the mineral-rich north and east of Democratic Republic of Congo, citing Congolese anti-Tutsi policies and historical Rwandan heritage in the area. The government of Congo soon found itself supported by several other African nations, and mounted a counter attack. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Combatants Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Chad, Mai-Mai, Hutu-aligned forces Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Movement for the Liberation of Congo Congolese Rally for Democracy Tutsi-aligned forces Commanders Laurent-Désiré Kabila (Congo), Joseph Kabila (Congo), Sam Nujoma Robert Mugabe José Eduardo dos Santos Idriss D... The Congolese Rally for Democracy, sometimes Rally for Congolese Democracy, was a rebel group operating in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). ... The Tutsi are one of three native peoples of the nations of Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa, the other two being the Twa and the Hutu. ...

An April 2001 United Nations report alleged "mass scale looting" of Congolese mineral resources. The report claimed that senior members of the Rwandan government had made hundreds of millions of dollars from illegal mineral trading, and that:

A June 2001 Amnesty International report implicated Rwandan and Rwandan-backed forces (amongst others) in the deliberate killing of thousands of Congolese civilians.

An un-named Congolese Church leader was quoted in the report as saying:

Although the Rwandan and Ugandan governments claim to have withdrawn their forces from Congo, there are consistent reports of ongoing Rwandan involvement. Rwandan and Ugandan-backed militia groups continue to commit grave human rights abuses. The conflict has so far claimed approximately 3.8 million lives.

Critics allege that the Rwandan occupation of the Eastern Congo has been motivated chiefly by a desire to exploit Congolese mineral resources. Paul Kagame has, in turn, claimed that these criticisms are based on Hutu-extremist propaganda, and that Rwanda's sole reason for occupying the Congo has been to defeat the remnants of the Hutu-extremist militia who fled there from Rwanda after the 1994 genocide; however true that is.

A 2002 United Nations report elaborated on the allegations of illegal profiteering by Rwandan and Ugandan forces in Congo:

President Kagame

Paul Kagame became President of Rwanda in March 2000, after Bizimungu was deposed. Three and a half years later, on August 25, 2003, "he won a landslide victory in the first" national elections since his government took power in 1994, amid reports by EU observers of voting irregularities and harassment of opposition parties. In March of that year, he had been awarded the Young Presidents Organization's Global Leadership Award for his role in leading and rebuilding Rwanda.^{[citation needed]} August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A presidential election was held in Rwanda on 25 August 2003. ...

The human rights organisation Freedom House lists Rwanda as "not free", noting that, despite limited democratic reforms, Rwandans do not have the power to change their government. The 2004 Reporters Sans Frontières Press Freedom index rated Rwanda 113th out of 167 countries. Their 2005 report concluded that: This map reflects the findings of Freedom Houses 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005. ... Reporters Without Borders, or RWB (French: Reporters sans frontières, or RSF) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to freedom of the press. ...

Despite its claims to support freedom of the press, the Kagame government continues to behave like a predator. Ten years after the genocide of the Tutsis, in which "hate media" played such a grim role, Rwanda is still a country where press freedom does not exist.^{[citation needed]}

Kagame is highly critical of the United Nations and its role in the 1994 genocide. In March 2004, his public criticism of France for its role in the genocide and its lack of preventative actions caused a diplomatic row. Critics have accused Kagame of exploiting Western guilt over the genocide to deflect public criticism of corruption and human rights abuse by his government. The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

v • d • e

Presidents of Rwanda

Dominique Mbonyumutwa • Grégoire Kayibanda • Juvénal Habyarimana • Théodore Sindikubwabo • Pasteur Bizimungu • Paul Kagame

Augustin Bizimana Augustin Bizimana (born 1954) is a Rwandan politician. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (83rd in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Emmanuel Habyarimana is a former Rwandan soldier and politician. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (83rd in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pasteur Bizimungu (born 1950) was the President of Rwanda from July 19, 1994 until March 23, 2000. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Rwanda. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (84th in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Rwanda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Rwanda. ... Dominique Mbonyumutwa was a Rwandan politician. ... Grégoire Kayibanda (May 1, 1924-December 15, 1976) was a Rwandan politician. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Théodore Sindikubwabo (born 1928 – died late 1990s) was the interim president of Rwanda from April 9 to July 19, 1994. ... Pasteur Bizimungu (born 1950) was the President of Rwanda from July 19, 1994 until March 23, 2000. ...

References

This article concerns the British newspaper. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Voice of America (VOA) is the official international broadcasting service of the Government of the United States. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (70th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Voice of America (VOA) is the official international broadcasting service of the Government of the United States. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ...

External links

• BBC Biography of Paul Kagame
• Paul Kagame - a Biography
• A PBS Timeline of the Genocide
• The 1994 Genocide
• BBC News, October 2003 - Rwandan ruling party wins election
• United Nations, April 2001: Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Amnesty International, June 2001: Democratic Republic of Congo - Rwandese-Controlled East - Devastating Human Death Toll
• BBC News, UN boosts DR Congo border force
• Gendercide Watch, Case Study: Genocide in Rwanda, 1994
• United Nations, October 2002: Final report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of DR Congo
• George Monbiot, The Guardian, April 2004: "The Victim's License"
• Freedom House entry on Rwanda, 2005
• Rwanda: Kagame Addresses Japanese Senate
• Official biography
• BBC News, Rwanda leader defiant on killing claim, January 30, 2007

See also

• Rwandan Genocide
• Second Congo War
• Military of Rwanda
• History of Rwanda