Former Prime Minister Pierre Celestine Rwigema has apologized to Rwanda for carrying out a negative smear campaign against Rwandan government while in exile.
In 2000, Rwigema resigned his position as Rwanda’s Prime Minister. He immidiately fled into exile to United States of America becoming a fierce critic of Rwanda government under President Paul Kagame.
“You know I left this country with problems, though they were later resolved, but the way they looked like when I reached abroad I also reacted with lots of negative smear campaigns, lots of accusations because I was really not understanding the basis of it all,” Rwigema said in a press conference today.
“This followed the arrest warrant by prosecutor general Gerald Gahima who even followed me up to USA questing for my arrest. When I made a follow up, I realized it was actually not from the government but from some individuals who were plotting perhaps to kill me. The people who plotted aganist me were actually from my former political party,” Rwigema added.
“I know there are some people who probably are still hurt with what I said then and right now I apologize. I understood the truth that it was individuals plotting against me,’ he said.
Rwigema said he then begun getting closer to other Rwandans and sought how to return to rwanda.
He thanked the judiciary for clearing all 1994 Genocide cases that had emerged against him in Gacaca courts.
Why he fled
Former Prime Minister did not actually satisfy the press why he resigned referring them to a press conference he held then before he fled.
Reasons for running out of the country were due to then emerging accusations of his involvement in the 1994 Genocide.
“There was no problem at all to resign, it was even the time of ending transition, because I was even present at the swearing in of the president that time but secretly I knew accusations had begun emerging. I had been tipped by some people. You know when someone is still in authority, he has immunity and when you are no longer in authority whoever wanted you would simply grab you. I had learnt that some people had begun plotting against me,” He added.
While addressing the press, Mr Rwigema said that he was received in an honored way and that President Paul Kagame had a role in making it happen.
When asked what kind of role president Kagame played, Rwigema said that as a former prime minister requested to comeback home and the president rendered him that kind of reception as some people went to receive him at Kigali International Airport.
When asked whether he has come back to the political arena, Rwigema said that he is ready for any appointment since he feels strong and desire to serve his country but said that he does not belong to any political affiliation.
“Looking at what Rwanda has achieved in just ten years, it shows that Kagame’s leadership deserves support,” he said.
He was drilled by the press what trust Rwandans should have in him whether he has not come for any particular appointment and if he does not get the appointment he will not flee the country again.
Rwigema said that he is a reformed person and he has really apologized which he believes that probably Rwandans would believe him and that they would give it time to observe.
“The issue here is not committing a mistake but the issue is understanding and accepting the mistake and ready to correct it,” He explained.
Rwigema arrived in the country on Saturday evening received as a diplomat at Kigali International Airport. He came alone leaving his family in USA who will be joining him in the near future according to him.
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