Eugene Mussolini
{{Short description|Rwandan politician (born 1977)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Eugene Mussolini
| office = Member of the Chamber of Deputies
| termstart = 2019
| constituency = Disabled community
| predecessor = Rusiha Gaston
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|12|24}}
| education = Kigali Independent University (MBA)
}}
Eugene Mussolini (born December 24, 1977) is a Rwandan politician. Since 2019, Mussolini has served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, holding the parliamentary seat reserved for people with disabilities.
Early life and education
According to Mussolini's profile on the official website of the Chamber of Deputies, he was born on December 24, 1977. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kigali Independent University.{{Cite web |title=Deputies' Profiles - Hon MUSSOLINI Eugene |url=https://www.parliament.gov.rw/chamber-of-deputies-2/member-profile/deputies-profiles?tx_news_pi1%5B%40widget_0%5D%5BcurrentPage%5D=2&cHash=ede8f376b5287b7a3348df5228671962 |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=Chamber of Deputies}}
Early career
A survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Mussolini criticized France's role in the Rwandan genocide.{{Cite web |date=8 April 2014 |title=Lingering bitterness between Rwandans and French on genocide {{!}} eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/africa/lingering-bitterness-between-rwandans-and-french-genocide |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=eNCA |language= |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703203212/https://www.enca.com/africa/lingering-bitterness-between-rwandans-and-french-genocide |url-status=dead }} Prior to his election, Mussolini served on the Gasabo District council.
Mussolini, who is physically impaired, previously worked at the National Council of People with Disability.{{Cite web |last=Tabaro |first=Jean De La Croix |date=2018-09-02 |title=Eugene Mussolini Is First MP Elect |url=https://www.ktpress.rw/2018/09/eugene-mussolini-is-first-mp-elect/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=KT PRESS |language=en-US}} He formerly worked at the Association of Landmine Survivors and Amputees of Rwanda (ALSAR), which advocates. for the ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2015 |title=Rwanda Bans Cluster Bombs |url=http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/en-gb/media/news/2015/rwanda-bans-cluster-bombs.aspx |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=Cluster Munition Coalition}}
Parliamentary career
In the 2018 Rwandan parliamentary election, he was elected as the disabled representative in the Chamber of Deputies. Mussolini defeated outgoing MP Rusiha Gaston by a margin of 75.5% to 14.5% of the vote.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-03 |title=Eugène Mussolini elected MP for persons with disabilities |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/158095/News/eugne-mussolini-elected-mp-for-persons-with-disabilities |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=The New Times |language=en}}
= Tenure =
In 2022, Mussolini was one of five MPs to introduce legislation to give Rwandans access to contraceptive services from the age of fifteen. The proposed bill, which was introduced with support from Gamariel Mbonimana, Speciose Ayinkamiye, Phoebe Kanyange, and Alice Muzana, was ultimately tabled.{{Cite web |last=Sabiiti |first=Daniel |date=2022-10-18 |title=Social Media Reacts After Parliament Rejects Reproductive Health Bill |url=https://www.ktpress.rw/2022/10/social-media-reacts-after-parliament-rejects-reproductive-health-bill/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=KT PRESS |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Mussolini described the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as a "terrorist group of genocidaires extending their genocide ideology in the DRC".{{Cite web |date=2023-01-28 |title=Will Pope help silence the guns in DR Congo and South Sudan? |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/peace-be-with-you-pope-visits-region-amid-conflict-4101882 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=The East African |language=en}}