Maj. Gen Niyombare, the most respected General behind the Def min, a Hutu and a former CNDD rebel commander who was known for his humanity often letting govt soldiers go as he had no problem with them. He was ambassador to Kenya, then head of the SNR, State Security body. He wrote a private letter to Nkurunziza begging him for the sake of the country to leave when his term was due, PN sacked him and put his crony, so he had fair warning
..."Wewe ni mtu mdogo sana....na mwenye amekuandika pia ni mtu mdogo sana!".