Theogene Rudasingwa
Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa | |
|---|---|
| Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States | |
| In office 1996–1999 | |
| Chief of Staff to the President of Rwanda | |
| In office 2000–2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 2, 1961 Kibungo, Rwanda |
| Spouse | Dorothy Rudasingwa |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Makerere University (MD) The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (MA) |
| Profession | Physician, diplomat, educator |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Major (Rwandese Patriotic Army) |
Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa (born 2 February 1960)[1] is a leading figure in the Rwanda National Congress and a former Chief of Staff to Rwandan President Paul Kagame (2000-2004), former General Secretary of the Rwandan ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and former ambassador to the United States from 1996 to 1999. Rudasingwa has been in exile in the U.S. since 2004 after falling out with President Kagame, and was recently sentenced to 24 years in jail by a Rwandan court on charges that may have been politically motivated.[2][3] Rudasingwa was born outside Rwanda and has lived most of his life outside the country.
Rudasingwa was one of those who gave evidence in 2013 in Spain relating to charges of genocide and war crimes by Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and RPF figures in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1994 and 2000.[3] Rudasingwa was himself a Major at the time.[4]
Early life and education
Rudasingwa was born in Kibungo, Rwanda. Following ethnic violence in the early 1960s, in which his father was killed, he was raised by his mother, Coletta Bamususire, in refugee camps across Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.[5][6]
He attended Rwekubo and Kahilimbi Primary Schools and later Makobore High School, Ntare School and Kigezi High School in Uganda.[5]
He earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Makerere University and a master's degree in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.[5]
Military and diplomatic career
Rwandese Patriotic Front
From 1990 to 1993, during the Rwandan Civil War, Rudasingwa served in the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) and its armed wing, the Rwandese Patriotic Army (RPA), rising to the rank of Major. Initially a battlefield physician, he later became the movement’s Director for Africa, acting as liaison to the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity and other African liberation movements.[7]
He was also a participant in the Arusha Peace Process.[8][6]
Government service
After the 1994 genocide and the RPF’s ascent to power, Rudasingwa held several senior posts:
- Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States (1996–1999), rebuilding bilateral relations and securing post‑genocide aid.[5][6]
- Chief of Staff to the President of Rwanda (2000–2004), coordinating policy and executive affairs.[7][9]
Publications
- *Urgent Call: From Exile to Freedom* (2014) [14]
- *Intabaza and Voices from Exile* (2016)[15]
Personal life
Rudasingwa is married to Dorothy Rudasingwa; the couple have four children.[6]
References
- ^ Twagilimana, Aimable (2015). Historical Dictionary of Rwanda. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 201. ISBN 9781442255913.
- ^ Exiled foes live in fear of Kagame by Donna Bryson, Associated Press, in The Washington Times, 26 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2014. Archived here.
- ^ a b RNC Leader Theogene Rudasingwa Testifies Against Rwandan Paul Kagame in Spanish High Court AfroAmerica Network, 14 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014. Archived here.
- ^ Rwanda genocide: Kagame 'cleared of Habyarimana crash' BBC News, 10 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d Rudasingwa, Theogene; Stein, Adam; Allen, Caroline (2019). "Lessons From a Life in Rwandan Politics". The Brown Journal of World Affairs. 25 (2): 199–208. ISSN 1080-0786.
- ^ a b c d Felde, Kitty (1999-04-25). "Theogene Rudasingwa". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ a b Donna Bryson (26 January 2011). "Exiled foes live in fear of Kagame". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Dayal, Anjali Kaushlesh, ed. (2021), "The Arusha Negotiations, 1990–1994: UNAMIR in the Shadow of Somalia", Incredible Commitments: How UN Peacekeeping Failures Shape Peace Processes, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 79–130, ISBN 978-1-108-84322-5, retrieved 2025-07-10
- ^ "Exiled Rwandan Official Calls for Release of UN War Crimes Report". Voice of America. 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ "Theogene Rudasingwa | Pambazuka News". www.pambazuka.org. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ Lorch, Donatella (1994-04-27). "Rwanda Aide Calls Truce 'Last Chance'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ Rudasingwa, Theogene (2013). Healing a nation : a testimony : waging and winning a peaceful revolution to unite and heal a broken Rwanda. Internet Archive. North Charleston, S.C. : CreateSpace. ISBN 978-1-4818-5765-9.
- ^ "Books about Rwanda | American Diplomacy Est 1996". americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ Rudasingwa, Theogene (2014-06-08). Urgent Call: The Imperative for Regime Change and Societal Transformation in Rwanda. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1-4993-2362-7.
- ^ Rudasingwa, Theogene (2016-12-31). Voices from Exile: Readings in Rwanda's Contemporary Protest Movement. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1-5413-7217-7.
External links