Last week, Anne Rwigara, a notable Rwandan opposition figure in exile, tragically passed away under enigmatic circumstances in California. A former political detainee, Anne was the sister of Diane Rwigara, who had previously contested in Rwanda’s presidential elections as an opposition candidate.
At the age of 41, Anne Rwigara succumbed after experiencing severe stomach pains over several days. Her sudden demise baffled her family, as her mother revealed to the BBC. Given her previously robust health and the rapid progression of her illness, her death remains shrouded in mystery.
The unexpected nature of Anne’s passing has raised suspicions among her family and friends. This incident adds to the growing list of unresolved cases involving the deaths of Rwandan dissidents.
Anne, a United States citizen, was wrongfully imprisoned in 2017. She, alongside her mother and sister, faced baseless accusations following the Rwandan regime’s obstruction of Diane Rwigara’s bid in the 2017 presidential elections.
Moreover, the Rwigara family has been acquainted with tragedy before. Anne Rwigara’s father, Assinapol Rwigara, a successful businessman and one-time financier of the ruling party, met his untimely end under similarly mysterious circumstances in 2015
