This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/10358171.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Rwanda ex-army chief shot in SA | Rwanda ex-army chief shot in SA |
(40 minutes later) | |
Lt Gen Nyamwasa has been living in exile in South Africa since February | |
A former Rwandan army chief of staff, Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, has been shot in South Africa and taken to hospital in a critical condition. | |
His wife told the BBC the couple had been returning from shopping when a gunman opened fire on the car. | His wife told the BBC the couple had been returning from shopping when a gunman opened fire on the car. |
She said it was an assassination attempt as there had been no demand for money or goods. | |
Lt Gen Nyamwasa, a critic of President Paul Kagame, fled from Kigali in February. | |
He is now undergoing surgery in a Johannesburg clinic. | |
Mrs Nyamwasa said the gunman had shot at them, until his gun jammed. | |
Military reshuffle | |
BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says Lt Gen Nyamwasa was one of President Kagame's closest confidants, until they fell out. | |
Since arriving in South Africa, the former army chief has accused the president of corruption, accusations the Rwandan authorities have denied. | Since arriving in South Africa, the former army chief has accused the president of corruption, accusations the Rwandan authorities have denied. |
A couple of months after he went into exile, along with another top military officer, President Kagame reshuffled the military leadership ahead of elections due in August. | A couple of months after he went into exile, along with another top military officer, President Kagame reshuffled the military leadership ahead of elections due in August. |
At the time, two high-ranking officers were also suspended and put under house arrest. | |
The elections will be the second presidential polls held since the 1994 genocide in which 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. | The elections will be the second presidential polls held since the 1994 genocide in which 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. |
Lt Gen Nyamwasa played an important role in the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which put a stop to the killing and which is now in power. | |
A one-time rebel leader, President Kagame is viewed by many in the West as one of Africa's more dynamic leaders. | A one-time rebel leader, President Kagame is viewed by many in the West as one of Africa's more dynamic leaders. |
But critics have raised concerns about his more authoritarian tendencies and the government has recently been accused of harassing the opposition ahead of the elections. | But critics have raised concerns about his more authoritarian tendencies and the government has recently been accused of harassing the opposition ahead of the elections. |