{"id":2000111446,"date":"2026-05-10T09:59:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T07:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000111446"},"modified":"2026-05-10T09:59:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T07:59:48","slug":"agathe-kanziga-was-a-central-figure-in-akazu-network-secret-letter-sheds-light-on-her-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/agathe-kanziga-was-a-central-figure-in-akazu-network-secret-letter-sheds-light-on-her-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Agathe Kanziga was a central figure in Akazu network, secret letter sheds light on her role"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The document was written by Lt. Col. Charles Uwihoreye, a former officer in Habyarimana\u2019s presidential security apparatus who also served as commander of the military gendarmerie in Ruhengeri Prefecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the letter dated June 24, 1994, Uwihoreye wrote to Col. Ren\u00e9 Galini\u00e9, who served as military adviser at the French Embassy in Kigali between 1988 and 1991, detailing killings taking place across Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter remained undisclosed for years before Galini\u00e9 handed it in 2022 to historian Prof. Vincent Duclert, who chaired the French commission investigating France\u2019s role and support for the Rwandan government between 1990 and 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French newspaper Le Monde published the document on May 7, 2026, after Galini\u00e9 authorised its release to journalists through Prof. Duclert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the letter, Uwihoreye describes how soldiers from Habyarimana\u2019s presidential guard under the command of Major Mugemana killed Tutsi civilians in the communes of Kinigi and Kigombe in Ruhengeri on January 22, 1991. He also recounts how members of his own family were subsequently targeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The officer further notes that massacres of Tutsis in Bugesera and other regions, including Kibilira, were carried out by Interahamwe militias operating under the supervision of presidential guard units and with the backing of senior government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Uwihoreye, the government at the time prioritised the elimination of political opponents over developing a military strategy against the RPA, relying instead on informal directives issued through the Presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He states that orders to target Tutsi civilians originated from members of the Akazu, also referred to as the \u201cR\u00e9seau Z\u00e9ro\u201d, a powerful network composed of Habyarimana, his wife Agathe Kanziga, and close family associates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uwihoreye wrote that officials across political, military, and economic institutions were expected to comply with directives issued by the Akazu. He noted, however, that then-Minister of Defence James Gasana opposed the system and ultimately resigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter identifies Habyarimana as the leading figure within the Akazu, followed by Agathe Kanziga. Protais Zigiranyirazo, Kanziga\u2019s brother, widely known as \u201cMonsieur Z\u201d and a former prefect of Ruhengeri, is identified as the third-ranking member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Duclert said Uwihoreye had served the Habyarimana government loyally before being imprisoned in 1991 on accusations of treason, allegations he said were based solely on the officer\u2019s Tutsi identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duclert also said Uwihoreye trusted Galini\u00e9 because the French officer had intervened on his behalf, helping secure his release and reinstatement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCharles Uwihoreye served Habyarimana\u2019s government faithfully before being imprisoned in 1991 because, as a Tutsi, he was considered a traitor,\u201d Duclert said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was later released thanks to Ren\u00e9 Galini\u00e9\u2019s intervention and returned to his duties. Galini\u00e9 considered him a reliable source and someone with deep knowledge of the Habyarimana government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A separate document from the French external intelligence agency (DGSE), dated September 22, 1994, also identified Habyarimana, Kanziga, and Zigiranyirazo as leading figures within the Akazu and described its members as \u201cHutu extremists\u201d opposed to democratic reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That intelligence report, published by Mediapart and Radio France in February 2019, further alleged that several military officers protected by Kanziga and Zigiranyirazo, while directing attacks against Tutsi civilians, became known as the \u201cColonels de Madame.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those named were Col. Elie Sagatwa, Kanziga\u2019s brother; S\u00e9raphin Rwabukumba, another relative of Kanziga; and Charles Nzabagerageza, a cousin of Habyarimana and former prefect of Ruhengeri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others identified as members of the Akazu included Col. Th\u00e9oneste Bagosora, a senior official in the Ministry of Defense; Lt. Col. Anatole Nsengiyumva, head of military intelligence; Lt. Col. Nkundiye, former commander of the presidential guard; Capt. Pascal Simbikangwa; former Justice Minister Matayo Ngirumpatse; RTLM executive Ferdinand Nahimana; Lt. Col. Tharcisse Renzaho; Emmanuel Bagambiki; Col. Laurent Serubuga; and Col. Pierre C\u00e9lestin Rwagafilita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During investigations into Kanziga in France, Col. Galini\u00e9 told investigating judges St\u00e9phanie Tacheau and Carole Vujasinovic that Kanziga was indeed part of the Akazu, although she sought to avoid public association with the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uwihoreye\u2019s letter was never introduced as evidence in court proceedings. However, it may now become part of renewed efforts to examine Kanziga\u2019s role in the planning and implementation of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled that the investigation into Kanziga should be reopened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision, issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, overturned a previous ruling by investigative judges on August 21, 2025, which had ordered the closure of the case due to what they described as insufficient evidence linking Kanziga to the crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The document was written by Lt. Col. Charles Uwihoreye, a former officer in Habyarimana\u2019s presidential security apparatus who also served as commander of the military gendarmerie in Ruhengeri Prefecture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lt. Col. Charles Uwihoreye (right) stated that orders to kill Tutsi civilians originated from the Akazu.


<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Uwihoreye\u2019s letter was never introduced as evidence in court proceedings. However, it may now become part of renewed efforts to examine Kanziga\u2019s role in the planning and implementation of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A previously secret letter has placed Agathe Kanziga, widow of former President Juv\u00e9nal Habyarimana, at the centre of the Akazu power network, implicating her in decisions leading to the killing of Tutsis from October 1990, when the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) launched its armed campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000111447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[151,70],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000111446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics-48","tag-editors-choice","tag-main-home-ighlight","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":2000111447,"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kanz-58c6e.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":627,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kanz-58c6e.jpg","width":150,"height":94},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kanz-58c6e.jpg","width":300,"height":188},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kanz-58c6e.jpg","width":768,"height":482},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kanz-58c6e.jpg","width":1000,"height":627},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kanz-58c6e.jpg","width":1000,"height":627}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000111446","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\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000111446"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000111446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000111450,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000111446\/revisions\/2000111450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000111447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000111446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000111446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000111446"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000111446"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000111446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}