Earlier than the 1994 Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi, throughout it, and even in its aftermath, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustin Kuradupagase, a former member of the ex-FAR (Forces Armées Rwandaises), believed that the Rwanda Patriotic Military (RPA-Inkotanyi) and Tutsi had been the enemy.
However a mix of things together with recommendation from his household, a change in his personal convictions, and navy defeat led him to put down his arms and be a part of the very power he as soon as fought in opposition to.
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Right now, Kuradupagase serves on Rwanda Nationwide Police (RNP)’s Senior Administration Council. He describes his journey from ex-FAR soldier to Inkotanyi as a mirrored image of Rwanda's path towards unity and reconciliation.
Born in 1968 within the former Karago Commune, Kuradupagase was educated by French navy instructors earlier than becoming a member of the ex-FAR.
“As a result of I got here from an space that was the house of former President Juvénal Habyarimana, I used to be chosen to hitch the École Supérieure Militaire (ESM) in 1991. The programme usually lasted 4 years, however as a result of the liberation conflict had already begun, we accomplished just one 12 months of coaching,” he recalled.
After finishing his navy coaching, Kuradupagase was deployed to the previous Mutara area (Japanese Province) with the third Battalion within the former Muvumba Commune.
“The battalion operated in several places throughout the area, and we fought for a very long time. I used to be promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant in January 1994,” he narrates.
When the Genocide started on April 7, Kuradupagase’s battalion was in Gabiro, however he was particularly stationed in Kabarore with one in every of its firms.
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In line with him, the RPA-Inkotanyi reduce off all provide routes, leaving 4 Ex-FAR battalions stranded.
“Finally, the 4 battalions managed to return to Kigali, however the Muvumba Battalion remained on the frontline in Nyakayaga, Kiziguro and Mukarange throughout heavy rains. I used to be wounded in Musha and brought to Kanombe Army Hospital,” he recounts.
“I later returned to the battlefield. Our battalion was then primarily based in Nyamirambo, whereas the Inkotanyi had captured the strategic space of Rebero. I realised we had been dropping the conflict. We relied closely on grenades, however ultimately we ran out of them. Kigali had been surrounded by the Inkotanyi, and our heavy artillery had been neutralised. Troopers started fleeing to Zaire,” he provides.
On July 3, 1994, Basic Gratien Kabiligi, ex-FAR’s chief of navy operations, convened a gathering at Camp Kigali and informed troopers to flee to Zaire along with the civilian inhabitants.
“I travelled alongside the Nyabarongo route and on July 17 crossed into Zaire,” he says.
Whereas in exile, he mentioned, Ex-FAR troopers shaped an intelligence and military unit often known as CRAP (Commandos de Recherche et d'Actions en Profondeur), led by then Captain Evariste Murenzi, with the target of reorganising and launching assaults in opposition to Rwanda.
At the moment, based on Kuradupagase, Congolese President Mobutu Sese Seko maintained shut ties with Ex-FAR troopers and the Burundian ruling social gathering, CNDD-FDD.
“Six of us had been despatched to Burundi to offer navy coaching to coach Burundian forces. We travelled throughout Lake Kivu to Bukavu, then to Uvira earlier than crossing the Ruzizi River.”
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After coaching Burundian troopers, he later returned to Zaire. He travelled to the Masisi space the place senior Ex-FAR commanders held conferences to organize new assaults on Rwanda.
“I later re-entered Rwanda by Mount Karisimbi. In Could, I reached the Byangabo space and climbed Mount Mugogo. The next day, the Inkotanyi attacked us, forcing us to retreat to my dwelling space.”
There, he reunited together with his household, who had already returned to Rwanda. They informed him that he ought to return and be a part of others in rebuilding the nation.
“I informed them I meant to proceed to Kigali to struggle and seize the town,” he says.
Nevertheless, whereas making an attempt to advance, his group was defeated close to the Nyabarongo River.
“That’s once I remembered my dad and mom' recommendation. Most of my fellow troopers had been killed. I informed those that remained that they need to be a part of the Inkotanyi if that they had not participated within the Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi.”
Surrendering
In Could 1997, he surrendered within the former Giciye Commune (in present Nyabihu District).
“Later, I joined operations in opposition to the Abacengezi insurgents in Giciye, serving within the 99th Battalion. That’s once I grew to become an Inkotanyi.”
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He later served within the 59th Battalion.
“We labored collectively for greater than a 12 months. He taught me concerning the RPF, its rules, the RPA and its values.”
On January 8 1998, Kuradupagase was assigned to the power then often known as the Gendarmerie, which later grew to become a part of the Rwanda Nationwide Police.
In November 1999, he enrolled on the École de la Gendarmerie Nationale, the place he specialised in felony investigations and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
“When the Rwanda Nationwide Police was established, I grew to become one in every of its officers. From 2000 to 2008, I served in administration and command roles. In 2008, I returned to the Police School in Musanze for 3 years {of professional} police research. In 2011, I joined Police Headquarters in Kigali, the place I labored on the Joint Operations Centre. Right now, I serve on the Police Senior Administration Council.”
Kuradupagase has two kids.
His son serves as a Second Lieutenant within the Rwanda Defence Drive.
“My son studied on the Royal Army Academy Sandhurst, the identical academy attended by the son of the President of the Republic. My daughter studied pharmacy in Italy. I commend our nation's management for selling nationwide unity and eliminating discrimination,” he mentioned.
