Gen Patrick Nyamvumba whose sacking was made public laast evening becomes the tenth high profile official that the Rwandan president Paul Kagame has dismissed from his government in the last 18 months.
One of the high-ranking military officers, Nyamvumba was summoned back to Defence headquarters “pending further decision.”
The Rwandan leader relieved Gen Patrick Nyamvumba of his duties as internal security minister, citing “matters of accountability” according to a statement issued by the office of the prime minister.
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“Today, April 27, the president has removed Gen Nyamvumba from his duties as Minister for internal Security, owing to matters of accountability under investigation,” Prime Minister Edourd Ngirente said in the brief statement signed on behalf of Kagame.
Gen Nyamvumba is a former Chief of Defence Staff of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), a position he held for six years.
From 2013–2019, Nyamvumba served as the Chief of the Rwandan Defence Force. Prior to that, from 2009 to 2013, he served in Sudan as Force Commander of the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). A graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Nyamvumba previously served the RDF as a commander of infantry forces, Commandant of the Rwanda Military Academy in Nyakinama, President of the Military High Court (2007–2009), Chief of Logistics, and Chief of Operations, Plans, and Training (1998–1999).
Other powerful ministers such as Gen James Kabarebe (Defence) and James Musoni (Infrastructure) are some of the latest officials to be dropped.
Recent sackings
Gen Patrick Nyamvumba (Internal Security) March 2020
Amb Olivier Nduhungirehe (State for Foreign Affairs) February 2020
Dr Richard Sezibera (ForeignAffairs) March 2018
Gen James Kabarebe (Defence) October 2018
Dr Diane Gashumba (Health) February 2020
Isaac Munyakazi (State for Education) February 2020
Evode Uwizeyimana(Justice) December 2019
Seraphine Mukantabana(Demobilisation Chair) November 2019:
James Musoni (Infrastructure) October 2018
Julienne Uwacu (Sports& Culture)