Former Rwandan President narrowly escapes assassination attempt,

By AfroAmerica Network Correspondent in Kigali.

August 14, 2001.

It is Wednesday, August 8, 2001 around 3 :00 PM when Mr. Pasteur Bizimungu, a former Rwandan President, calls his driver, Gashakiye, waiting for him at the workshop of Mr. Magambo in Remera suburb of Kigali. Mr. Bizimungu gave orders to his chauffeur to wait for his return from Nyakaliro, where Mr. Bizimungu has a farm.

Around 6 :20 PM, Mr. Bizimungu drops off, in Masaka passed the township of Kabuga, females who work on his farm. He then drives to the workshop of Mr. Magambo to pick up the driver.

On his way, he picks up a young teenager near the place called 19 and later drops him off. He passes an unmarked Department of Military Intelligence vehicle, Totoya Landcruiser just at the level of Mr. Marino's residency.

Mr. Bizimungu arrives at Magambo's workshop around 6:30 PM and waits outside after briefly honking to signal his driver. He keeps the engine running but pulls down the window glass to inquire about the driver with group of people hiding in a dark shade near the workshop entrance.

The answer and reaction from the group of people is so threatening that Mr. Bizimungu starts to pull up the window glass.

He has not finished to pull up the window when a mob of young men in civilian clothes attack him from the left. One young man opens a door, grips Bizimungu's throat and spits in his face.

Suddenly, a huge stone is thrown into the glass windows and falls inside the car with a loud noise. Several watchers start to run in disorder but a group of young people tried to force their way into Bizimungu's car. The backdoors are locked and keep them outside. He fights to fend off the attack and at the same time to move the car. Finally he is able to move the car and speeds away.

Immediately, several military cars arrive on the scene, pick up the assailants and speed away in the dark.

According to witnesses the attack was very well coordinated.

Just before Bizimungu arrived, soldiers setup a road block on the small dirty road leading to the workshop. Nevertheless the soldiers guarding the roadblock opened just before Mr. Bizimungu got there and immediately closed after he passed.

Three military vehicles patrolled the area just before and during the attack. The vehicles include a Samurai, a white Toyota Landcruiser and a Defender. The Samurai and the Defender were part of Bizimungu's escort just before he fell out with General Kagame, the current President of Rwanda.

During the attack, the Samurai was driven by Maurice, one of Bizimungu's former bodyguards.

Moments before Bizimungu arrived, the Landcruiser and Defender had dropped off RPA soldiers before disappearing.

After the attack, a green Landcruiser and the Defender picked up the assailants. One of the assailants is RPA captain Butera, former commander of Bizimungu's escort.

Observers in Kigali say that it is a matter of time before Mr. Bizimungu is assassinated the way other RPF deserters were. Among RPF deserters who allegedly were assassinated by RPA military intelligence are Seth Sendashonga, a former RPF minister, Theoneste Linzinde, a former RPA high ranking officer and Member of parliament, Assiel Kabera, former adviser to Bizimungu, and several businessmen and high ranking military officers.

©AfroAmerica Network, August, 2001.