My Daughter was not Sick: Mother Speaks Out on ‘Mysterious’ Death of Anne Rwigara, Sister to Fierce Kagame Critic

The mother of Anne Rwigara, the sister of Diane Rwigara, a critic of Rwanda President Paul Kagame and former presidential candidate, has spoken out on the ‘mysterious’ death of her daughter.  

Diane Rwigara, a daughter to fallen businessman Assinapol Rwigara, made a daring attempt to challenge Kagame in the 2017 presidential election, opening her family up for tough hand of the state.

Diane Rwigara’s father Assinapol died in 2015 in an accident. His relationship with Kagame had deteriorated into a fallout by the time he died.

Two years later, Diane Rwigara emerged to run against Kagame in the poll for the country’s top job.

The Rwandan National Electoral Commission declared that Diane Rwigara had presented fake signatures to back up her nomination. Her candidature and dream of leading the country that is praised for having a considerable number of women in leadership positions ended.

But the Rwandan state was not yet done. Tax collectors Rwanda Revenue Authority demanded $6.7m in taxes, forcing the closure of the Rwigara family business and the freezing of its accounts.

There would be more for Diane, Anne and their mother Adeline Rwigara have been in and out Rwandan jail over the charges related to tax evasion and electoral offences.

ANNE RWIGARA MYSTERIOUS DEATH

On December 28, Anne Rwigara died in the United States after complaining of stomach complications.

Her mother Adeline described her death as a mystery insisting her daughter had not been sick.

“She was not sick. It was just a matter of days. [Her death] was just a mystery,” she said.