On 14 October 1990, Major Paul Kagame made a crucial decision that would shape Rwanda’s history. While completing his training at Fort Leavenworth in the United States, he withdrew from the Senior Military Command Course to return to Rwanda and join the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) in its armed struggle against the Rwandan government.
At the time, the RPF, composed largely of Tutsi refugees and led by Fred Rwigema, had initiated an invasion of Rwanda in an effort to overthrow the government and address the long-standing issues of ethnic oppression and the plight of Rwandan refugees. Kagame’s departure from the course was seen as a clear commitment to the cause of liberation and military engagement rather than furthering his military education.
Upon his return, Paul Kagame quickly took a prominent role in the RPF’s leadership and military strategy, eventually becoming its commander. His leadership would later be instrumental in shaping the military victories of the RPF during the 1990-1994 war and ultimately in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. Kagame’s involvement in the liberation struggle contributed significantly to his later ascent as one of the central figures in Rwandan politics, eventually becoming the President of Rwanda in 2000.
Key Points:
- On 14 October 1990, Major Paul Kagame withdrew from his Senior Military Command Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to join the RPF front lines in Rwanda.
- His decision was a pivotal moment in the RPF’s military campaign and his personal commitment to the cause of Rwandan liberation.
- Kagame’s return to the frontlines marked the beginning of his key role in the RPF’s military strategy, and later, his rise as one of Rwanda’s most influential leaders.
- This decision came as the RPF was engaged in the early stages of the Rwandan Civil War, which would escalate into the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.
Kagame’s leadership during this time helped solidify his position as an influential figure within the RPF and, eventually, as the President of Rwanda, where he has been instrumental in Rwanda’s post-genocide rebuilding and development.