Do Not Disturb (book)
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Founder | Michela Wrong |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad is a 2021 publication authored by British journalist Michela Wrong, released by Fourth Estate and PublicAffairs. The book delves into the 2014 killing of Rwandan dissident Patrick Karegeya, an act the Rwandan government has consistently denied involvement in.
Background
With over two decades of experience reporting on Africa for organizations such as Reuters and Financial Times, Michela Wrong originally accepted the official version presented by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). However, her perspective shifted following the 1998 assassination of former interior minister Seth Sendashonga. Wrong has remarked that during the writing of this book, she "never felt so personally at risk." Initially published in early 2021 by Fourth Estate and PublicAffairs, a French edition was later issued in 2023 by Max Milo Éditions.
Content
The narrative focuses on the 2014 murder of Patrick Karegeya, who was found dead in a South African hotel room where assailants left a "do not disturb" notice. While the Rwandan government rejected any responsibility, President Paul Kagame, Karegeya’s childhood acquaintance, stated, "I actually wish Rwanda did it," warning adversaries they would "face consequences." Wrong’s inquiry relies extensively on interviews with former insiders from Kagame's close circle.
Additionally, the book situates these events within Rwanda’s broader history, including the fatal shooting of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira that ignited the Rwandan genocide, scrutinizing those accountable. Wrong portrays Kagame as a ruthless autocrat, likening him to Soviet secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria. Karegeya is one among numerous regime critics who have died under questionable circumstances linked to the government.
Despite Rwanda’s extraterritorial assassinations attracting less global condemnation compared to similar acts by Russia and others, Wrong examines how Rwanda sustains strong relationships with international donors. She argues that tolerating authoritarian regimes for perceived stability amounts to a form of racism and challenges the rationale behind providing aid to governments with worsening human rights records that simultaneously perpetrate war crimes and suppress opposition.
Reception
Ian Birrell of The Times described the work as an "absorbing Shakespearean saga," uncovering a more nuanced story of Rwanda and revealing brutality beneath a regime lauded by many Western supporters. Howard W. French in The New York Times called it "perhaps the most ambitious attempt yet to tell the dark story of Rwanda and the region’s deeply intertwined tragedies for a general audience." The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont recognized it as one of the most comprehensive historical reassessments of Kagame’s leadership.
Reuters characterized the book as "deeply researched," noting Michela Wrong’s exposé will confront Kagame’s international backers. Martin Fletcher in New Statesman praised Wrong for stripping away the regime’s façade to reveal underlying atrocities.
Alex Park in Current Affairs emphasized how the book uncovers "a remarkable catalog of lies the R.P.F. sold to western apologists and the realities they covered up." The Economist lauded its "massively documented" detail, suggesting readers must reject viewing Kagame as a "progressive dictator" if they accept even part of its evidence. Tom Zoellner, co-author with Rwandan dissident Paul Rusesabagina, described it as "myth-busting," "explosive and devastatingly convincing."
Alec Russell of Financial Times called Do Not Disturb "a remarkable, chilling and long overdue book" and "an extraordinarily brave piece of reporting" likely to inspire reevaluation of Rwanda’s leadership. The Washington Post commended Wrong for integrating criticism into a cohesive account centered on political rivalry.
Former British diplomat Edward Clay applauded Wrong’s meticulous research and explanations of previously unclear events spanning 26 years. Rwandan defector Theogene Rudasingwa also endorsed the book.
Susan Thomson, an academic at Colgate University, hailed it as "one of the best books on Rwanda I’ve read in a long time" and "a masterclass in investigative journalism." Conversely, Phil Clark writing for Foreign Affairs argued that Wrong did not sufficiently critique opposition factions and disagreed with cutting foreign aid on human rights grounds.
The publication received endorsements from John le Carré and Desmond Tutu.
France's Marianne magazine described it as "remarkably written," blending an individual’s ambitious story with political anthropology that enhances comprehension of Rwanda’s tragedy.
The French edition was published under the title Assassins sans frontières.