Agathon Rwasa

Who is Agathon Rwasa?

Agathon Rwasa is a Burundian politician and the leader of the National Liberation Forces. He was a Hutu militia leader during the Burundi Civil War.

Rwasa was reported to be a Born-again Christian.

Burundi was ruled by the minority Tutsi UPRONA from independence in 1962 until the 1993 election which was won by the majority Hutu FRODEBU party. Three months later the new president was assassinated and UPRONA took power back in a military coup. Two groups – the CNDD-FDD and PALIPEHUTU-FNL started an armed rebellion against the military government which became the Burundi Civil War. from early 1998 Agathon Rwasa began his campaign to take control of the Pelipe Hutu FNL where he was posted in eastern Burundi as deputy chief of military operation of the east zone to Nibayubahe Sylvestre, the overall operation commander.

Nibayubahe died on 26 January in a gun battle with the FAB, Rugigana Silas was supposed to take over as deputy chief of staff to Cossan Kabura but due to his Rwandan nationality and close association to Cossan Kabura most of the FNL fighters proposed Rwasa as the new leader of the movement because of his war like character and ever present on the battlefield, Aloys Nzabampema and sixth bert where instrumental in Rwasa take over as both of them where brigade commanders respectively.