Rwandan President Paul Kagame has sacked the all-powerful police chief, Dan Munyuza.
In a statement issued on Monday night by the Prime Minister , Kagame appointed Felix Namuhoranye to replace Munyuza.
Namuhoranye has been serving as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations.
Namurohanye previously served as Commandant National Police College.
Munyuza, a controversial figure, took over as police chief from Emmanuel Gasana in 2018.
He had served as Police’s head of operations.
Munyuza had a long stint at the directorate of Military Intelligence where he headed clandestine operations in the region and beyond.
He has been accused of human rights abuses by international human rights groups.
In the changes announced today, Kagame also dropped Maj Gen Emmanuel Baingana as Permanent Secretary, Defence Ministry.
Baingana has been replaced by Col Celestin Kanyamahanga, who has been the Head Defence Acquisition (procurement).
The changes in the police and military command come at a time Rwanda is literally at war with DR Congo.
Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of helping M23 rebels with modern arms, intelligence and elite forces to destabilize the mineral-rich eastern region, a claim Kigali denies.
Kigali blames Kinshasa for embedding the genocidal FDLR militia in DRC’s armed forces to fight M23 rebels. DRC also denies the charge.
A recent United Nations report showed that both Rwanda and DRC were helping armed movements in eastern Congo.
The development also comes when Rwanda is facing international scrutiny over the death of critical journalist William Ntwali.
Human Rights Watch said Rwandan authorities have failed to ensure a credible, transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death.
A judge at the Kagarama primary court said the driver, Moise Emmanuel Bagirishya, charged with involuntary manslaughter, had “pleaded guilty and apologized for the accident.” Bagirishya, who was not at the verdict reading, was fined one million Rwandan francs (US$920).
However, authorities dismissed human rights organisation’s claims that Ntwali was possibly murdered, saying the journalist was killed in a road accident at 2:50 a.m. without any form of ID or witnesses present.
