Kagame Has Rehabilitated James Musoni — Eight Months After Musoni Was Dismissed From Cabinet

General Paul Kagame and James Musoni at the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) meeting December 22, 2018.

In April 2018, General Paul Kagame dismissed James Musoni, one of Rwanda’s longest-serving ministers, in the cabinet since 2005. Musoni’s sacking came after Kagame promised to dismiss arrogant ministers: ”I will fire you at the end of it all.” Eight months later, Musoni prominently featured at the December 22, 2018, RPF meeting — even wearing the same attire as his boss, Kagame. The main lesson? Rwandan political economy is too complex. Musoni is, in reality, the real CEO of Crystal Ventures, the RPF’s US$500 million business empire. Musoni is also the real RPF’s Secretary General. Musoni is simply too valuable for Kagame — at least for the time being.