POISONED? INSIDE ANNE RWIGARA’S MYSTERIOUS DEATH

Anne Rwigara, the sister of President Paul Kagame critic and activist Diane Shima Rwigara who attempted to contest for president in Rwanda, has died at the age of 41.
Anne Rwigara, who was a daughter of deceased prominent Rwandan businessman, Assinapol Rwigara, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023 in the United States where she lived. Assinapol perished in a road accident on Wednesday evening, 4th February 2015 when a heavy truck hit a Mercedes Benz in which he had his companions, on Nyarutarama road at a place called Kabuga ka Nyarutarama in Kigali city, sparking mixed reactions as some people said it was a stage-managed accident.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH: The cause of Anne’s death remains unclear though some sources allege that she was poisoned. Anne’s mother Adeline Rwigara was quoted by the media saying her daughter’s death was a “mystery” since she was not sick. It is understood that Anne complained of stomach complications before she died a few days later.
Anne and her mother spent a year in jail in Rwanda over alleged tax evasion and electoral malpractices.

POLITICS: In May 2017, Anne’s sister Diane announced she would run in the presidential election against President Paul Kagame.

The National Electoral Commission would later stop Diane from participating in the election, ruling that the hundreds of signatures she submitted to validate her candidacy were forged.
In October 2018, Diane Rwigara and her mother Adeline were released on bail, and acquitted in December same year, after spending more than a year in jail on charges including inciting insurrection against the government of Kagame.
TAXES: The Rwanda Revenue Authority subsequently notified the Rwigara family that they owed $6.7 million in taxes. As a result, the government closed the family business and froze their bank accounts.
By press time, many Rwandans and other human rights activists were posting condolence messages and mixed reactions on social media following Anne’s death.