Later, he studied abroad in North America, graduating with a Ph.D. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin.
On July 31, 1993, Higiro was appointed director of the Rwandan Information Office by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana.
He left Nairobi for the United States on July 19, 1994, the day he was supposed to be sworn in as minister of information in the RPF led government headed by Faustin Twagiramungu.
During the Civil war Higiro was targeted for his "moderate beliefs" and his enemies plotted to murder him.
According to the report, Higiro acknowledges supporting a group called the "Rally for Unity and Democracy," what the report characterized as 'a political and military organization aimed at opening up political space in Rwanda and peacefully removing what [Higiro] called "the dictatorial government" of President Paul Kagame.