The Liberal Party (PL), one of Rwanda’s oldest political parties, has been hit by a financial and leadership scandal that could taint its image ahead of the 2017 presidential election.

The party, which was founded in July 1991 by senior politicians who had dis-agreed with the government, is considered the third largest in the country after the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF Inkotanyi).

Today, it finds itself in a financial dilemma following reports of embezzlement linked to its former head, Protais Mitali, who, until recently, was Rwanda’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union.

Mr Mitali is suspected to have gone into exile soon after he was sacked by the government and ordered to return home to sort out the mess in the party.

The EastAfrican has learnt that Mr Mitali took a flight to a European destination instead of reporting back to Kigali on April 4, as expected.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo said the former diplomat had been relieved of his duties on March 21 and asked to report back to explain the troubles in the party.

“Following a complaint filed by his party with the government over the missing funds, we wrote to him on March 21 and requested him to return to Rwanda not later than April 4 to settle issues with his party,” Ms Mushikiwabo said. “By the time he was summoned, he was no longer Rwanda’s ambassador to Ethiopia.”

According to sources within the party, only a paltry Rwf200,000 ($289.4) is in the coffers, while up to Rwf63 million ($0.09 million) was reportedly in the account before Mr Mitali’s appointment and move to Ethiopia.

Refund

Mr Mitali, a seasoned politician, had earlier resigned as president of the party as pressure mounted over the missing funds, which he had reportedly agreed to pay back in instalments. Prior to his ambassadorial appointment, Mr Mitali was the minister for sports and culture.

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However, sources said Mr Mitali, who is on record as telling the media in 2012 that his party would not support the removal of constitutional presidential term limits, could have fled for “political reasons.”

A close relative of the former diplomat said Mr Mitali had expressed fears of a “political witch-hunt” emanating from the party, which is also embroiled in leadership wrangles.

The minister said that while she could not confirm that Mr Mitali fled into exile, she confirmed that he did not make it to Kigali where he was expected, and is no longer in Ethiopia, adding that any other issues were subject to investigation.