Times Reporter
Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo on Wednesday, July 26, said it was unfortunate that “the Belgian government seems to have capitulated to pressure from” the DR Congo government and propaganda from genocide negationist organizations and activists, through whom they decided to leak the decision to reject the appointment of Vincent Karega as Kigali’s Ambassador-designate to Brussels.
The decision by the Belgian government to reject Amb. Karega’s appointment was yet to be officially confirmed when it was leaked by Jambo News, an outlet owned by Jambo Asbl. The latter is a Belgium-based organization of descendants of perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Their activities, sources say, are all aimed at denying or minimising the 1994 genocide.
Gustave Mbonyumutwa, the grandson of Dominique Mbonyumutwa, Rwanda’s first president and one of the architects of Parmehutu, the extremist party that introduced ethnic cleansing, was Jambo Asbl president from 2017 to 2019.
His father, Shingiro Mbonyumutwa was a key player in MDR-Pawa that played a major role in the 1994 Genocide. At the height of the Genocide, Shingiro is on record instigating killing of the Tutsi.
In 2018, when the Belgian parliament was debating a law that criminalised denying the Genocide against the Tutsi, Jambo moved to block it but failed.
“Jambo is an association under Belgian law that brings together the children of former regime dignitaries. They claim to campaign for human rights in Rwanda, but in most cases they are defending the image of their parents and family acquaintances for the acts they committed during the genocide against the Tutsi,” a member of the Rwandan diaspora community in Belgium told The New Times.
“They have managed to make themselves known in the civil society of Afro-descendants in Belgium as opponents of President Paul Kagame’s government, enemies they share with the Congolese in Belgium.”
As noted, this credibility within the Belgian associative world gave them access to the political world and in particular to the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V), a Flemish Christian-democratic political party in Belgium whose NGOs had a foothold in pre-1994 Rwanda. It was traditionally the largest political party of Flanders, until it was overtaken by the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) in the 2010s.
With a history that dates back to the 19th century, the CD&V has generally the largest number of mayors and most Prime Ministers of Belgium and Ministers-President of Flanders have been CD&V politicians.
“This was the party that enabled most of the parents of Jambo Asbl members to obtain refugee status in Belgium, particularly in Flanders. Well established in this part of Belgium, they now constitute a significant electorate for Belgian political parties.”
Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium.
Besides Gustave Mbonyumutwa, there are other members of Jambo Asbl whose past connections are worth looking at.
Gustave, Ruhumuza, and Patrice Mbonyumutwa: A family legacy of extremism
Gustave, Ruhumuza, and Patrice Mbonyumutwa, all founder members of Jambo Asbl, hail from a family with deep-rooted connections to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Their father, Shingiro Mbonyumutwa, was a Genocide fugitive and a key member of the Hutu extremist party MDR-Pawa.
Robert Mugabowindekwe: The son of a tainted legacy
Robert Mugabowindekwe, 44, holds a significant position as the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jambo Asbl.
However, his background is deeply intertwined with the dark history of the Genocide against the Tutsi. His father, Lt Col Ephrem Rwabalinda, formerly an advisor to the chief of staff of the former Rwandan Army (FAR), was implicated in planning Tutsi executions. He sought military support from France to continue the massacre of the Tutsi community. The shadow of his father’s past raises questions about Mugabowindekwe’s leadership in Jambo Asbl.
Norman Sinamenye: A man with controversial ties
Norman Sinamenye, the Secretary General of Jambo Asbl, is associated with influential figures from the Genocide era.
Unlike the case of most other Jambo Asbl leaders, Norman’s father, André Sinamenye, did not participate in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. His father was a PSD member from Gikongoro known to be a moderate and would even travel to Rwanda after the genocide. Sinamenye tried to talk his son out of his extremist activities, without success.
Leon Habyarimana: A presidential connection
Leon Habyarimana, 53, is Jambo’s treasurer. He has a direct link to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi through his father, Juvenal Habyarimana, the former Rwandan president. Under his father’s rule, the government was responsible for planning and implementing the Genocide against the Tutsi. This familial connection raises questions about Leon’s involvement in Jambo Asbl and its activities. He is also a son in law to Félicien Kabuga, the financier of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Laure Uwase: A daughter of genocidaires
Laure Uwase, an editor in Jambo News, has a family background marred by connections to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Her father, Anastase Nkundakozera, was implicated in the atrocities, while her mother, Agnes Mukarugomwa, held a prominent position as an MRND activist involved in disseminating information during the Genocide.
Laura’s role within Jambo Asbl has come into question due to her family’s history.
Placide Kayumba: Founder with a dark legacy
Placide Kayumba, a founder member and former president of Jambo Asbl, is the son of Genocide convict Dominique Ntawukuriryayo.
Ntawukuriryayo played a significant role in the killings at Kabuye hill, where thousands of Tutsi refugees lost their lives.
Placide’s affiliation with Jambo Asbl raises concerns about the organization’s commitment to addressing its members’ past actions.
Natacha Abingeneye: Ties to a founder of the Interahamwe
Former leader of Jambo, Natacha Abingeneye, is the daughter of Juvénal Uwiringiyimana, a former Minister of Commerce and Industry and a founder of the notorious Interahamwe militia.
Her familial ties to figures involved in the Genocide against the Tutsi have sparked criticism of Jambo Asbl’s leadership.
Source: The New Times
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