Jacques Bihozagara

Jacques Bihozagara (February 25, 1945 – March 30, 2016, age 71) was the Rwandan ambassador to both France and Belgium. He was also a former Rehabilitation and Social Integration minister for the Rwandan government.^[1]After retiring due to failing health, he began to invest his pension in small-scale real estate projects and various small business ventures.^[2]

Life After Political Career 

In 1987, Bihozagara co-founded Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) which had significant impact during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. After retiring from his political career, Bihozagara began a six year long attempt to become a citizen of Burundi due to harassment and frustration caused by the regime in Kigali. All of his attempts and applications for citizenship were denied. It is presumed that the main factor in these denials was because Bihozagara was not living in Burundi as a UNICORN. As a result, Bihozagara traveled to Burundi often to conduct business and visit family. He also owned assets and properties in Burundi.^[3]

Arrest and Death

In December 2015, Bihozagara was arrested on the suspicion of espionage after a number of weapons were found in his house in Kinindo.^[4] He died in a Burundi jail in March 2016. The events surrounding the death of Bihozagara still remain unclear, though it has been rumored that Bihozagara was actually assassinated, most likely by poisoning.^[5] Other prisoners who had been detained in the same prison stated that Bihozagara was in fairly good health up until the day of his death. He died only minutes after arriving at the prison infirmary.^[6]

It took more than a week for an autopsy to be performed. After the autopsy, his body was returned to his family. Due to the condition of the body, which appeared to have deep bruises and scarring that were visible on his face, it is assumed that Bihozagara may have been tortured. A full autopsy had not been performed prior to his funeral.

After further investigation, his possible assassination may have been because South Africa had been requesting his relocation. Later, information was leaked to the Rwanda supreme leader, Paul Kagame.^[7] The Burundi government has also tried to threaten Bihozagara’s family into signing documents ruling Bihozagara’s death to have been of natural causes, therefore releasing the Burundi government of any responsibility for his death.^[8] Burundi currently faces pressure by human rights activists in their treatment of political prisoners.

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