Félicien Gatabazi Explained

Félicien Gatabazi (died 21 February 1994) was a Rwandan politician who was killed in the lead-up to the Rwandan genocide. At the time of his death he was secretary general of the Social Democratic Party^[1] and served as Minister of Public Works and Energy.^[2]

Career

Gatabazi had served in the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana in the 1970s and he was dismissed in a cabinet reshuffle on 8 January 1984. In 1992, Gatabazi's Social Democratic Party entered government and Gatabazi became minister in the cabinet of Dismas Nsengiyaremye.^[3]

Gatabazi was perceived to be a moderate Hutu.^[4]

Death

After returning home from a political meeting Gatabazi was shot and killed in Kigali.^[5]

Shortly after Gatabazi's death an angry crowd killed Martin Bucyana, president of the Coalition for the Defence of the Republic, in Butare, hometown of Gatabazi.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Veronique Kiesel . Le ministre Rwandais assassiné a ete enterre dans le calme a Butare, qui a tué Felicién Gatabazi lundi soir . French . . 25 February 1994 . 15 October 2016.
2. Web site: Rwanda : information indiquant si Félicien Gatabazi, président du Parti social démocrate (PSD), a été tué le 21 février 1994 par la milice du Front patriotique rwandais (FPR-Inkotanyi); dans le cas contraire, la date et les auteurs de ce meurtre . French . . 25 May 2001 . 15 October 2016.
3. Book: André Guichaoua. Don E. Webster. Scott Straus. From War to Genocide: Criminal Politics in Rwanda, 1990–1994. 1 December 2015. University of Wisconsin Pres. 978-0-299-29820-3. 108–.
4. Book: Fred Grünfeld. Anke Huijboom. The Failure to Prevent Genocide in Rwanda: The Role of Bystanders. 23 May 2007. BRILL. 978-90-474-3131-2. 119–.
5. Web site: Lindsey Hilsum . Rwanda tribal rampage feared after two politicians are killed . The Guardian . 23 February 1994 . 15 October 2016.