Agathe Habyarimana

Agathe Habyarimana (born Agathe Kanziga on 21 January 1942) is the widow of former Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and was the First Lady of Rwanda from 1973 until 1994. She left Rwanda in April 1994 following the assassination of her husband. She has denied allegations of involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. As of May 2026, a French appeals court has overturned an earlier dismissal of the investigation into alleged complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity and ordered further investigations. Quotes On her husband's political affairs “My husband had told me: ‘never ask me anything about national business,…’” Agathe Kanziga, interviewed by Peter Verlinden, quoted by Dan Ngabonziza, Ex-First Lady Agathe Habyarimama Says “Totally Ignorant” of Genocide, RTLM radio, KT Press, 29 April 2017. “My husband said he could not allow all the Rwandan refugees to repatriate at once with all their cows and everything.” Agathe Kanziga, quoted by Dan Ngabonziza, Ex-First Lady Agathe Habyarimama Says “Totally Ignorant” of Genocide, RTLM radio, KT Press, 29 April 2017. On the allegations against her “It's all lies. I deny the lot.” Agathe Habyarimana, interviewed by Alex Duval Smith, Genocide? “I deny the lot”, The Observer, published by The Guardian, 18 February 2007. “I have confidence in the French justice system.” Agathe Habyarimana, translated from the French “J'ai confiance en la justice française,” Depuis que la France et mon pays ont renoué, j'ai peur, Le Parisien, 10 April 2010. “I had no role. All Rwandans know that. I was a wife at home.” Agathe Habyarimana, translated from the French “Je n'avais pas de rôle. Tous les Rwandais le savent. J'étais une épouse à la maison,” Depuis que la France et mon pays ont renoué, j'ai peur, Le Parisien, 10 April 2010. “I chose France. This is the land of justice and human rights. The truth will come out in the end and it will triumph.” Agathe Habyarimana, interviewed by Alex Duval Smith, Genocide? “I deny the lot”, The Observer, 18 February 2007. On the 1994 events and her departure from Rwanda “We learnt about everything while in France.” Agathe Habyarimana, quoted by Dan Ngabonziza, Ex-First Lady Agathe Habyarimama Says “Totally Ignorant” of Genocide, RTLM radio, KT Press, 29 April 2017. “I cannot tell you anything about the massacre.” Agathe Habyarimana, quoted by Dan Ngabonziza, Ex-First Lady Agathe Habyarimama Says “Totally Ignorant” of Genocide, RTLM radio, KT Press, 29 April 2017. “When there will be peace.” Agathe Habyarimana, translated from the French “Quand il y aura la paix,” in response to a question about whether she might return to Rwanda, Depuis que la France et mon pays ont renoué, j'ai peur, Le Parisien, 10 April 2010. External links Agathe Habyarimana at Wikipedia Ex-First Lady Agathe Habyarimama Says “Totally Ignorant” of Genocide, RTLM radio — KT Press Genocide? “I deny the lot” — The Observer / The Guardian Depuis que la France et mon pays ont renoué, j'ai peur — Le Parisien Report on the resumption of the French investigation — Le Monde, 6 May 2026 Category:Women from Rwanda Category:1942 births Category:Living people