Who is Michela Wrong?

Fighting for human rights in Africa Great Lakes Region

Michela Wrong is a British journalist and author known for her investigative work on African politics, corruption, and human rights, particularly in the Great Lakes region of Africa. She has written extensively on the political and social issues affecting countries like Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya.

Her books include:

1. "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" (2001) – Examines the rise and fall of Mobutu Sese Seko in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

2. "I Didn't Do It for You" (2005) – Chronicles the colonial and post-colonial history of Eritrea.

3. "It's Our Turn to Eat" (2009) – Focuses on corruption in Kenya through the story of John Githongo, a whistleblower.

4. "Borderlines" (2015) – A fictional account based on real geopolitical tensions in Africa.

5. "Do Not Disturb" (2021) – Investigates the assassination of former Rwandan intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya and critiques the Rwandan government under Paul Kagame.

Wrong's work sheds light on human rights abuses, corruption, and authoritarianism in Africa, making her a critical voice in exposing injustices in the region. Her writing has contributed to debates on governance and democracy, particularly in Rwanda and the DRC.

About Rwanda and DRC

Michela Wrong has been highly critical of both the Rwandan and Congolese governments, particularly regarding human rights abuses, corruption, and political repression. Her work extensively covers Rwanda’s role in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and how international narratives often overlook the darker sides of these governments' actions. Here’s a breakdown of her key arguments:

1. On Rwanda – The Paul Kagame Government and Human Rights Abuses

Wrong’s most recent book, "Do Not Disturb" (2021), is a strong critique of Paul Kagame’s government. She argues that:

• Kagame’s government is not the democratic success story that it is often portrayed as in the West.
• The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) uses intimidation, assassination, and repression to silence critics, both inside and outside Rwanda.
• She highlights the case of Patrick Karegeya, a former Rwandan intelligence chief who was assassinated in 2013 in South Africa, allegedly on Kagame’s orders.
• Kagame and the RPF have suppressed opposition, exiled or killed political opponents, and control media narratives.
• Rwanda has used its reputation as a genocide survivor to deflect international criticism of its human rights record.

2. On the DRC – Mobutu, Corruption, and Rwandan Influence

Wrong’s book "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" (2001) covers Mobutu Sese Seko’s corrupt rule in the DRC (then Zaire) and how his downfall left a power vacuum that led to continued instability. She argues that:

• Mobutu built a deeply corrupt system that collapsed under its own weight, leading to a brutal civil war in the 1990s.
• The Rwandan and Ugandan governments played a significant role in the conflicts in eastern DRC, supporting rebel groups for their own economic and political interests.
• Rwanda has profited from the DRC’s instability, particularly by controlling illegal mineral trade routes in eastern Congo.
• The international community often ignores Rwanda’s involvement in the looting of Congolese resources because of the West’s guilt over failing to prevent the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.

3. Criticism of Western Support for Kagame

Wrong also criticizes the Western governments and international institutions that support Kagame’s Rwanda, arguing that:

• The West, particularly the UK and the US, has turned a blind eye to Rwandan war crimes in the DRC.
• The Rwandan army’s interventions in Congo (especially during the First and Second Congo Wars) have led to mass killings, but international bodies rarely hold Rwanda accountable.
• Kagame has used genocide guilt to secure international aid and military support, despite his government’s authoritarian practices.

4. On Rwanda-DRC Relations

• Rwanda continues to support armed groups in eastern DRC, including the M23 rebel group, which has been accused of atrocities.
• Kigali uses the claim of hunting down Hutu extremists (ex-FAR/Interahamwe) as a justification for its military incursions into the DRC.
• Meanwhile, the Congolese government has failed to stabilize the eastern provinces, allowing Rwanda to exploit the chaos.

The Rwandan Genocide:

Michela Wrong acknowledges the 1994 Rwandan Genocide as one of the most horrific events in modern history, in which 800,000 to 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were slaughtered by extremist Hutu militias (Interahamwe) and elements of the Rwandan government. However, her analysis extends beyond the mainstream narrative, critically examining how the genocide has been used by the post-genocide government of Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

1. The Genocide as a Historical and Political Event

Wrong recognizes that:

• The genocide was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence, but rather the result of decades of ethnic tensions, colonial divisions, and propaganda.
• The extremist Hutu Power ideology, propagated by the government and media (e.g., Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines), played a crucial role in mobilizing mass participation in the killings.
• The international community failed to intervene, with the United Nations and Western powers largely abandoning Rwanda in its darkest moment.

2. Kagame and the RPF’s Role in Ending the Genocide

• Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), composed of Tutsi exiles and rebels, overthrew the genocidal Hutu regime and ended the genocide.
• However, Wrong challenges the idea that the RPF’s actions were purely heroic. She acknowledges that the RPF stopped the killings but also highlights their own war crimes, including revenge massacres against Hutu civilians.
• She points out that Western guilt over failing to stop the genocide has led to uncritical support for Kagame’s government.

3. Criticism of the “Official” Rwandan Government Narrative

Wrong argues that Kagame’s government has:

• Used the genocide as a political tool to silence opposition, both domestic and international.
• Framed itself as the sole saviour of Rwanda while downplaying or suppressing discussions about RPF atrocities.
• Criminalized alternative narratives, punishing journalists, historians, and political opponents who challenge the government’s official version of events.
• Justified authoritarianism and regional interventions (especially in the DRC) by citing the need to prevent future genocide.

4. The Question of “Double Genocide”

• Wrong does not subscribe to the controversial “double genocide” theory, which claims that both Hutus and Tutsis were equally victims of genocide.
• However, she acknowledges that mass killings of Hutus took place, particularly at the hands of the RPF in Rwanda and the DRC.
• She criticizes how these crimes have been ignored by international justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which only prosecuted Hutu extremists, while RPF crimes went largely unpunished.

5. Rwanda’s Influence on the Great Lakes Region

• Wrong argues that the genocide's legacy continues to shape Rwanda’s interventions in the DRC, where Kagame claims to be hunting down remnants of the Interahamwe and ex-FAR (former Rwandan army forces).
• She believes that this justification has allowed Rwanda to exploit Congolese resources and destabilize the region with impunity.

Michela Wrong's analysis of the Rwandan Genocide and its aftermath is based on extensive journalistic research, interviews, historical accounts, and reports from human rights organizations. Her sources can be categorized into the following:

1. Her Own Investigative Work & Books

• "Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad" (2021) – This book details the assassination of Patrick Karegeya and criticizes Kagame’s authoritarian rule, including its use of the genocide as a political tool.
• "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" (2001) – While primarily about the DRC, it touches on Rwanda's role in the Congo Wars and Kagame’s influence in the region.

2. Interviews with Rwandan Dissidents & Exiles

Wrong’s research includes interviews with:

• Patrick Karegeya (former head of Rwanda’s intelligence, later assassinated in South Africa).
• David Himbara (former economic adviser to Kagame, now a critic in exile).
• Faustin Twagiramungu (former Rwandan Prime Minister and opposition figure).
• Various former RPF officials and military personnel who later became critics of Kagame’s regime.

3. Reports from Human Rights Organizations

Wrong references reports from organizations that have documented RPF abuses, political repression, and war crimes:

• Human Rights Watch (HRW) – Reports on RPF massacres in the 1990s, political assassinations, and disappearances.
• Example: “Leave None to Tell the Story” (1999) by Alison Des Forges, which documents the genocide but also mentions RPF killings.
• Reports on Rwandan involvement in the DRC and illegal mineral exploitation.
• Amnesty International – Documents cases of political repression and disappearances.
• UN Mapping Report (2010) – A crucial document detailing RPF war crimes in the DRC, including massacres of Hutu refugees.

4. Academic & Historical Research

Wrong draws from academic historians and genocide scholars who have examined Rwanda critically:

• Filip Reyntjens (Belgian political scientist, expert on Rwanda and the Great Lakes).
• René Lemarchand (scholar specializing in Rwandan and Burundian history).
• Judi Rever (author of "In Praise of Blood", which accuses the RPF of committing mass atrocities).

5. Reports from International Bodies

• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) – While it primarily prosecuted Hutu extremists, it documented some RPF crimes.
• United Nations Group of Experts Reports – Various UN reports linking Rwanda to rebel groups in eastern DRC, particularly M23.

6. Journalistic Investigations & Testimonies

• Wrong's own investigative journalism and that of others, including:
• BBC Documentary: "Rwanda’s Untold Story" (2014) – This documentary presents alternative views on the RPF’s actions.
• Articles from The Guardian, The New York Times, The Economist, and other global media outlets covering Rwanda.

Summary of Sources

Wrong’s analysis is based on a mix of:

1. First-hand interviews with former Rwandan officials and dissidents.

2. Reports from NGOs like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International.

3. UN documents, especially the UN Mapping Report (2010).

4. Academic research by scholars like Filip Reyntjens.

5. Journalistic sources, including her own work and that of others.

Conclusion:

Michela Wrong argues that the simplistic narrative of "good Rwanda vs. bad DRC" is misleading. While Kagame is often praised as a modernizing leader, she presents evidence that his government is deeply repressive and plays a destabilizing role in the Great Lakes region. At the same time, she highlights the failures of Congolese leadership and international complicity in the region’s ongoing conflicts.

Michela Wrong fully acknowledges the horrors of the Rwandan Genocide but challenges the simplistic narrative of "hero Kagame" and "villainous Hutus." She presents a more complex picture in which:

1. The genocide was a tragic reality that deserved global attention and intervention.

2. Kagame’s RPF ended the genocide but also committed war crimes and used the genocide narrative for political control.

3. The West’s guilt over its inaction has led to blind support for Kagame, allowing him to suppress opposition and interfere in neighbouring countries.

________________________________________________

Produced by African Rights Alliance, London, UK