Rwanda National Congress goes for new faces in party elections

The East African, 3 hours ago
By Joint Report The EastAfrican
Posted Saturday, May 31 2014 at 14:51
IN SUMMARY
Party announced that it will not participate in the 2017 presidential
elections. Save for Dr Theogene Rudasingwa, a former director of
Cabinet in President Paul Kagame's office, the opposition group said
former officials will serve the party in other capacities. Observers
say omission of two former senior state officials who still cause
unease in Kigali could be a calculated move to remove "most wanted
men" from the party's leadership.
The Rwanda National Congress, an exiled opposition group operating
from Washington, last week held elections that injected fresh blood
into the party's leadership.
However, the party announced that it will not participate in the 2017
presidential elections because it wants to unite Rwandans first before
pushing for regime change.
Save for Dr Theogene Rudasingwa, a former director of Cabinet in
President Paul Kagame's office, the opposition group said former
officials will serve the party in other capacities.
Dr Gerald Gahima, former prosecutor general and former army chief of
staff Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa have been left out in the new line-up.
Observers said that omission of the two former senior state officials
who still cause unease in Kigali could be a calculated move to remove
"most wanted men" from the party's leadership.
But the new RNC officials maintained that Dr Gahima and Mr Nyamwasa
are still party leaders, even without portfolios.
"Gen Nyamwasa, Dr Gerald Gahima and Joseph Ngarambe are founding
members of the RNC," said Dr Rudasingwa, the party's co-ordinator.
"They have been, and remain, our active leaders. They do not need
formal positions to give guidance and lead in all we do."
New line up
The new line up comprises Dr Emmanuel Hakizimana, a lecturer of
economics in Canada, as secretary general. He was a lecturer at the
National University of Rwanda before going into exile.
Dr Hakizimana has not been indicted by Kigali like other former RPF
officials in the RNC ranks, but he is not known in Rwanda as a
politician.
Dr Rudasingwa, the new co-ordinator, though well known, cannot set
foot in Kigali for fear of being arrested.
There are 11 political organisations in the country. Nine of these are
working under the aegis of the Political Forum, which has been accused
of working with the ruling RPF.
FDU-Inkingi and PS-Imberakuri of the jailed opposition leaders
Victoire Ingabire and Bernard Ntaganda respectively are not registered
and therefore cannot participate in elections.
Mr Ntaganda is expected to finish serving his jail term in June.
Another group of opposition parties including RNC, which caused
excitement in and outside Rwanda when it was launched in 2010, operate
from exile and their operations within the country are clandestine.
Exiled groups and unregistered parties cite harassment of opposition
leaders as a hindrance to democratic growth, but the government says
some opposition groups lack ideology and are working with dangerous
groups like the FDLR.
ALSO READ: Rwanda opposition wrangles are a symptom of an ideological vacuum
"We already have activity in Rwanda; of course clandestine since the
regime has made it clear RNC members must be in jail or be killed," Dr
Rudasingwa said in reference to arrests of opposition leaders and the
recent killing of ex-spy chief Col Patrick Karegeya in a South African
hotel. Rwanda government has distanced itself from the murder of Col
Karegeya.
http://www.google.ca/gwt/x?gl=CA&hl=en-CA&u=http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Rwanda-National-Congress-goes-for-new-faces-in-party-elections-/-/2558/2332998/-/asmeh5z/-/index.html&source=s&q=Rwanda+National+Congress+goes+for+new+faces+in+party+elections&sa=X&ei=gyiKU7fTOcKRyATy54LoAQ&ved=0CBoQFjAA
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SIBOMANA Jean Bosco
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