![\"\"](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/png\/pool.png\")
<\/figure>\n{{ {Rwanda National Congress leader Callixte Nsabimana, alias Sankara} }}<\/p>\n
On March 10, Mihigo told RNC leader Callixte Nsabimana, alias Sankara, in Kinyarwanda: \u201cAriko rero mon ami, jyewe numva rwose mubonyeu buryo mukuraho Rwbujindiri hatabaye intambara, byaba byiza kurushaho (But my friend, I think if you could find a way to remove the leaders without war, it would be even better.)\u201d<\/p>\n
This implied that all along Mihigo knew of the plot to overthrow the President by means of war.<\/p>\n
In response, Sankara said \u201cAt this point, war is inevitable because he (President Kagame) cannot agree to negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n
This website understands these messages will be tendered as evidence when Mihigo appears in court next week.<\/p>\n
During the conversation with Sankara, Mihigo sent another message: \u201cIsn\u2019t there a way to force him? Or why don\u2019t we kill him (Kagame) only?\u201d The RNC official answered, \u201cWe have to get ready to strike with force, take over one province fast, rally external powers and have them come between us to force negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mihigo responded: \u201cNumva aricyo Imana yandemeye,\u201d meaning, \u201cI think it\u2019s God’s calling for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Investigators who have been trying to establish Mihigo\u2019s motives say he saw in himself potential to obtain a huge position in government if the RPF system crumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cMihigo was not motivated by money but hunger for power,\u201d said a source who preferred anonymity so as to speak freely.<\/p>\n
As Mihigo and Sankara planned Kagame\u2019s overthrow, a lady indentified as Agnes Niyibizi was carrying money to Jean Paul Dukuzumuremyi, a demobilised soldier to plant explosives which would bring down the towering Kigali City Tower (KCT).<\/p>\n
{{Police quickly moved into action, seizing Dukuzumuremyi.}}<\/p>\n
According to Rwanda National Police spokesperson, ACP Damas Gatare, the law enforcement body is \u201cin possession of ample evidence including grenades and testimonies obtained from other accomplices arrested during the course of investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cache of grenades was found in Dukuzumuremyi\u2019s possession.<\/p>\n
Mihigo\u2019s messianic ambitions were later confirmed in a conversation with Sankara on March 11.<\/p>\n
Sankara told the musician: \u201cIgihugu cyawe kigutezeho kugicungura urubyiruko rwabahutu nabatutsi rukeneye ko uhagarara hagati kugirango ejo hazaza ibara ritazongera kugwa (Your country is waiting for you to save it. Hutu youth and Tutsi are waiting for you to stand up for them to ensure that tragedy never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mihigo responded: \u201cNumva aricyo Imana yandemeye (I think it\u2019s god’s calling for me)\u201d<\/p>\n
{{BBC Journalist\u2019s Involvement}}<\/p>\n
Investigators would later land on precious evidence before executing Mihigo\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n
On March 11, Sankara told Mihigo of a plan to secure the latter\u2019s stay in London after releasing a series of songs backing the overthrow of Kagame\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was speaking to Venuste Nshimiyimana, a journalist from BBC London who is a friend,\u201d said Sankara.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was telling him about your song and the bad reaction people have had. Why don\u2019t you let him get you an invitation from BBC so you can get a UK visa? You can go there instead of Belgium.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time, Mihigo had just released a controversial song titled \u201cIgisobanuro cyurupfu (the meaning of death.)\u201d<\/p>\n
In the song, Mihigo talks about a possible double genocide and insinuates there are people who retaliated for those killed in genocide.<\/p>\n
Mihigo expressed willingness to travel to London. \u201cBrother, I am in,\u201d the singer told Sankara.<\/p>\n
The RNC official also showed Sankara the message he had received from journalist Nshimiyimana.<\/p>\n
It read: \u201cReka nkwereke msg anyohereje. \u201cUmubaze azaze anyure kuri BBC TV and radio. Bamukorera PR atigeze abona mbere (Let me show you the message he has sent. \u201cAsk him to come and be on BBC TV and Radio. They will give him the kind of PR he has never seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether he would be available for the TV interview on April 7, Mihigo answered: \u201cWith pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rwandan authorities did not wait for Mihigo to appear on BBC. He was arrested and incarcerated. <\/p>\n
{{Bamporiki}}<\/p>\n
In his conversation with Sankara, Mihigo exhibits distaste for Edouard Bamporiki, Rwanda\u2019s youngest legislator in the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n
\u201cBro, the way Hutu admire me is the same way Tutsi hate me, but especially that Hutu called Bamporiki who pretends to be more Tutsi than Tutsis,\u201d said the jailed musician.<\/p>\n
Boasting of a network of hit men in Rwanda, Sankara tells Mihigo: \u201cIf you want, I can tell the youth that work there to \u2018punish\u2019 him. Two weeks and it will be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
He adds: \u201cIriya mbwa nasabye abasore banjye gukemura ikibazo cyabo (That dog, I have asked our men to solve this problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
On March 13, Mihigo said he would be thankful for the elimination of Bamporiki.<\/p>\n
He told Sankara: \u201cThe day you plan to \u2018solve the problem\u2019, tell me so I can delete you number (it\u2019s ok I know it by heart). I will then go share a meal with some people so that I have people vouching for me in case they say that I am the one responsible for killing him. It will be true justice because when the State does not know how to give justice and instead expedites injustice, people must do it on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
{{Tanzania\u2019s role}}<\/p>\n
In a boastful tone, Sankara promised: \u201cBrother, I am with one of my superiors. Leave that problem to me and blame me if it is not solved. Because there, except for pk (Paul Kagame) who is difficult, all the others would not live to see the next day if I decide. Delete these messages.\u201d<\/p>\n
A day later, Sankara exposed the role of Tanzania in attempts to overthrow Kagame\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
He said plans had been finalised for RNC-FDLR to officially declare war on Rwanda.<\/p>\n
An entire province would fall in the hands of rebels after which world bodies would be urged to intervene and force Kagame to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
Rwanda maintains it will not discuss with anyone linked to the genocide. The FDLR\u2019s leaders were responsible for the 1994 mass slaughter in Rwanda.<\/p>\n
During the war against the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, Tanzanian forces reportedly armed the FDLR militia to battle Brig Sultan Makenga\u2019s fighters.<\/p>\n
The Tanzanian contingent operated heavy artillery, bombing M23 bases from a very long distance.<\/p>\n
South Africa, the home to RNC top leadership, provided the necessary airpower that pounded M23\u2019s positions, with many of the combatants fleeing to neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda.<\/p>\n
The defeat of M23 removed the buffer zone that protected Rwanda from FDLR. <\/p>\n
Initially, Rwanda was opposed to the use of force against M23, saying a political solution was vital for the peace and stability of eastern Congo.<\/p>\n
On March 14, Sankara told Mihigo he was in company of \u201csomeone who is supposed to help our group with where we are will make our declaration. Tanzania is ready to help us, give us full security and help us by all means.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mihigo asked, \u201cwhen would that be?\u201d the RNC official responded: \u201cApril.\u201d<\/p>\n
{{Safety}}<\/p>\n
On the same day, Mihigo stated: \u201cThat\u2019s too soon. I am looking for a way to leave first. Because that is where I will be able to release the two other songs I have prepared and whatever happens, I have to do it during the Commemoration period.\u201d<\/p>\n
He further told Sankara: \u201cMy brother, just wait until I leave this land and you will see. They will talk about me and I will reply in a way that will transform people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe important thing is that you hide. Take out your battery and find another phone,\u201d Sankara advised the musician.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhubwo se ubwo ninkuramo batterie ntibashobora kumva ko hari icyo nikeka icyaha kikampama kandi bashoboraga kubura preuve? (But if I take out my battery, won\u2019t they think I am guilty when they could have ended up with no proof?\u201d wondered Sankara.<\/p>\n
The article was published in {Chimpreports}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
{{Kibeho in Nyaruguru District was the site of the mass murder of students from Marie Merci School. Hundreds were slaughtered in churches.}} In one church in Kibeho, the Interahamwe threw grenades and asphyxiated victims with smoke from outside. The French-led Operation Turquoise, which provided a safe haven for genocidaires\u2019 transit into neighbouring Zaire after the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2000051694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-13923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000051694,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/arton13923.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/arton13923.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/arton13923.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/arton13923.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/arton13923.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/arton13923.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000051694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13923"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=13923"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=13923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}