Gen Karenzi Karake walked confidently with a big smile on his face as hundreds of Rwandans thronged at the arrival gate at Kigali International Airport.
Officers at the airport saluted him even as far as where he could see them. He looked very happy, enthusiastic and felt at home.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, Karake is joined by his family and Friends hugged his wife endlessly.
His family was celebrating. Friends hugged his wife endlessly. His children happily stood behind chatting with close friends as their father greeted his comrades and friends.
Dressed in a dark-blue suit, a white shirt, black shiny gentle shoes, the sharp looking general immediately dived into one of the SUVs waiting and disappeared.
He addressed no media, but hagged and shook hands with almost everyone, some of whom had never seen him face to face before.
It was a heroic welcome regardless.
But it is not over, according to Justice Minister and Attorney General Johnston Busingye, who flew back with Gen Karake.
Busingye said while the case has been dismissed, but “the arrest of a General and chief of intelligence of a country in another country, where he has been more than twice, carries with it certain implications.”
Although he did not mention what the implications are, he said that, “The diplomatic community, UK and Rwanda, will have a few things to sort out in our bilateral relationship.”
Looking at the current relationship between the two countries, of all places, the UK as a close ally to Rwanda, was of all places, the last expected country to arrest the chief of intelligence.
This, Minister Busingye said, “We have asked these questions, but clearly these are not legal questions.” “There will be a conversation about these issues, diplomatically…why UK, why the way it happened, why the way it ended?”
One thing the minister did mention though, was that the £1million bail for Gen. Karake that had been handed to the Westminster judge as grantee will be returned and compensation has also been negotiated.
He did not mention the exact figure, but said it is slightly less that the £1million bail. This will cover the costs involved in the legal and other necessary logistics involved throughout the course of securing his release from the day he was arrested.
Apart from the compensation, Busingye said Gen. Karake may or may not sue for damages.
But there are many elements to consider, especially weight the benefits and disadvantages that might come along with suing.
“That’s something the government will have to review carefully…we need to look at the necessity to do it, the proof available, circumstances around, what we will be fighting to get visa-ave what the judge has already said we can get.”
Meanwhile, shortly before Gen.Karake drove off, Minister Busingye, with a jet-lag, rushed to the parliament where he had to attend Imihigo signing ceremony presided over by President Paul Kagame.
Inevitably, Busingye is expected to brief the President about how things unfolded until Gen.Karake finally touched the Rwandan soil.