{{Short description|Rwandian diplomat}} '''Jacques Bihozagara''' (February 25, 1945 – March 30, 2016, age 71) was a Rwandan diplomat. He served as the Rwandan ambassador to France and Belgium. He was a former Rehabilitation and Social Integration minister for the Rwandan government.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Umucunguzi|first1=Rabbi Malo|title=Ambasaderi Jacques Bihozagara yasezeweho bwa nyuma|url=http://www.igihe.com/amakuru/u-rwanda/article/madamu-jeannette-kagame-mu-baherekeje-bwa-nyuma-amb-jacques-bihozagara|website=Igihe.com|publisher=Igihe.com|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref> In 1987, Bihozagara co-founded Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which had a significant impact during the Rwandan genocide of 1994.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} After retiring due to failing health, he began to invest his pension in small-scale real estate projects and various small business ventures.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bakuramutsa|first1=Nkubito|title=Ambassador Jacques Bihozagara Dead, Cause Of His Death Remain Unclear|url=http://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/30843/ambassador-jacques-bihozagara-dead-cause-of-his-death-remain-unclear/|website=News of Rwanda|accessdate=23 November 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220105910/http://www.newsofrwanda.com/featured1/30843/ambassador-jacques-bihozagara-dead-cause-of-his-death-remain-unclear/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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== Life after political career ==
After retiring from his political career, Bihozagara began a six year long attempt to become a citizen of Burundi due to harassment and frustration caused by the regime in Kigali. His applications for citizenship were denied. It is presumed that the main factor in these denials was due to the fact that Bihozagara was not living in Burundi. Bihozagara then traveled to Burundi to conduct business and visit family. He owned assets and properties in Burundi.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rwandan politician dies in Burundi prison|url=https://africajournalismtheworld.com/tag/jacques-bihozagara/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122001/https://africajournalismtheworld.com/tag/jacques-bihozagara/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 20, 2016|website=Africa - News and Analysis|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref>
== Arrest and death ==
In December 2015, Bihozagara was arrested on suspicion of espionage after weapons were found in his house in Kinindo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Rwandan minister accused of spying dies in Burundi jail|url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/ex-rwandan-minister-accused-of-spying-dies-in-burundi-jail-20160330-4|agency=AFP|accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref> He died in a Burundi jail in March 2016. The events surrounding his death remain unclear, though it has been rumored that Bihozagara was assassinated, most likely by poisoning.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mugisha|first1=Ivan R.|title=Rwanda buries diplomat Jacques Bihozagara|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Rwanda-buries-diplomat-Jacques-Bihozagara/2558-3162620-7r5crm/index.html|website=The East African|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref> Other prisoners detained in the same prison stated that Bihozagara was in fairly good health until the day of his death. He died only minutes after arriving at the prison infirmary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Rwanda minister Jacques Bihozagara dies in Burundi jail|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35933811|website=BBC.com|publisher=BBC|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref>
It took more than a week for an autopsy to be performed. After the autopsy, his body was returned to his family. Due to the condition of the body, which appeared to have deep bruises and visible scarring on his face, it is assumed that Bihozagara had been tortured.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} A full autopsy was not performed prior to his funeral.
After further investigation, his assassination may have happened because South Africa had been requesting his relocation. Later, information was leaked to the Rwanda supreme leader, Paul Kagame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Another Son Of The Revolution - Muzehe Jacques Bihozagara, Being Assassinated By The Same Vampire|url=http://www.therwandan.com/blog/another-son-of-the-revolution-muzehe-jacques-bihozagara-being-assassinated-by-the-same-vampire/|website=The Rwandan|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref> The Burundi government tried to threaten Bihozagara’s family into signing documents ruling Bihozagara’s death to have been of natural causes, therefore immunizing the Burundi government from any responsibility for his death.<ref>{{cite web|last1=RWIRAHIRA|first1=RODRIGUE|title=[PHOTOS]: Bihozagara's body arrives, family calls for post-mortem|url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-04-06/198720/|website=The New Times|accessdate=1 December 2016}}</ref> Burundi currently faces pressure by human rights activists over their treatment of political prisoners.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bihozagara, Jacques}} Category:1945 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Rwandan politicians Category:Rwandan people who died in prison custody Category:Prisoners who died in Burundian detention Category:Ambassadors of Rwanda to Belgium Category:Ambassadors of Rwanda to France