Gen. Kagame reshuffles military chiefs

WIELDED KNIFE: Kagame

What you need to know:

Appointments at a glance

  • Maj. Gen. Karenzi Karake (director general, NISS)
  • Lt. Col. Joseph Nzabamwita (defence spokesperson)
  • Brig. Richard Rutatina (head, military intelligence)
  • Col. Dan Munyuza (head, external intelligence)
  • Col. Tom Byabagamba (head, counter intelligence)
  • Capt. Patrick Karuretwa (defence/ security adviser to President)

Rwandan President Kagame has reshuffled top intelligence and security officers, removing Col. Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro from the country’s top intelligence position.
Col. Ndahiro has been replaced by Maj. Gen. Karenzi Karake as the Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Gen. Karake, who was last placed under house arrest for indiscipline, replaces Col. Ndahiro who took over from Col. Patrick Karegyeya, who fled the country and now lives in exile.

It’s not clear what the new role of Col. Ndahiro will be at the Ministry of Defence, where he has been sent, but the new Rwanda Defence Forces Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Joseph Nzabamwita said “he is a colonel in the army and he will definitely get assignments”.

Col. Nzabamwita has replaced Lt. Col Jill Rutaremara who goes for further studies. When asked why the change of heart over Gen. Karake, the spokesperson said the new spy chief is “a senior and competent” officer.

“Don’t live in history. Look at the future. He is a senior and competent officer. He commanded the African Union force in Darfur and he has shown exemplary qualities as an officer,” said Col. Nzabamwita, who added that the reshuffle is a “routine activity” by President Kagame.

“The officers were transferred to positions where they will serve best and the changes aim at meeting our 2020 Vision, which is making Rwanda a middle income country and security is bedrock of our vision,” he said.

Gen. Karake, together with former air force chief Lt. Gen. Charles Muhire were last year placed under house arrest on claims that they committed “serious offences”.

Before his appointment, Gen Karake was the head of the Rwanda Military Academy-Nyakinama. The reshuffle follows grenade attacks in Kigali this week that left 12 people injured.

In other changes Brig. Richard Rutatina becomes the new head of military intelligence, Col. Dan Munyuza, who was accused in the local media of participating in the attempted murder on Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa last year, will now run external intelligence in the NISS. He is the former Director of Counter Intelligence.

Col. Tom Byabagamba is the head of the Counter Terrorism in the Ministry of Defence while Capt. Patrick Karuretwa will replace Brig. Rutatina as the Security Adviser to the President.