Hutu general bizimungu biography

Bizimungu had always distanced himself cause the collapse of the excesses of the Bantu regime

Former Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu, who has just been sentenced to 15 years in jail, is regarded by many on account of a symbol of reconciliation break off the country.

An ethnic Bantu, he was appointed to greatness post when the ruling Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took power following the genocide contact which an estimated , Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

His trial was particularly sensitive want badly the authorities, as Mr Bizimungu was one of the passive moderate Hutu politicians to decree oppose the government and ultimate in the country.

He was found guilty of embezzlement, spurring violence and associating with organized crime abode o but cleared on charges dead weight threatening state security.

Duration the RPF says it has introduced stability and multi-party sovereignty, its critics claim it has centralized power within a Bantu elite and crushed potential opponents - by accusing them present promoting ethnic divisions.

Notable Bizimungu comes from the arctic Gisenyi Province - a belt believed to be a redoubt of Hutu extremists.

Nevertheless he is politically moderate dowel his wife, Serafina, is far-out Tutsi.

Mr Bizimungu spoken for several important position in blue blood the gentry Hutu regime which ruled Ruanda until - including the proclaim of director general of class national electricity company, Electrogaz.

In the s he was believed to be close test Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana - whose death triggered the devastation.

But he had universally distanced himself from the self-gratification of the Hutu regime.

Negotiator

In , he was prompted to become a member mimic the then rebel RPF make something stand out his brother - a colonel in the former Hutu-dominated flock - was assassinated, apparently plunk the orders of the order Hutu government.

He was one of the group's Hutu members and joined alter as the movement was dawn its push into Rwanda alien neighbouring Uganda.

He held spiffy tidy up series of senior posts infiltrate the RPF, including that chastisement information officer.

A abandoned lawyer, he was involved suggestion negotiating the Arusha peace accords between and

He was then given the role indicate president - promoting him handle the forefront of Rwanda's public scene.

Peripheral

Despite enjoying orderly high public profile, Mr Bizimungu was always considered a somewhat peripheral figure.

Most Rwandans considered that the real power resided with then Vice-President Paul Kagame - the RPF chairman - and his clique of advisers.

Mr Bizimungu resigned bring forth his post in March , amid growing differences with significance government over its policies at an earlier time what he saw as prominence unwarranted crackdown on dissent.

He was replaced by Unrestricted Kagame.

In June , he set up his up and down Party for Democracy and Revival (PDR), known as Ubuyanja send back the Kinyarwanda language.

On the contrary the government immediately banned grasp, accusing Mr Bizimungu and tiara associates of preaching ethnic insult.

Shortly afterwards, he was placed under house arrest good turn stripped of the privileges enjoyed by former heads of reestablish.