Rwandan Nyamwasa murder plot: Four guilty in South Africa - BBC News

http://m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28981317

Rwandan Nyamwasa murder plot: Four guilty in South Africa

7 hours ago

Gen Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa in court in Kagiso near Krugersdorp on 28 August 2014 — Gen Nyamwasa was in court to hear the verdict

Four men have been found guilty of trying to murder Rwanda's former army chief, Gen Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, in South Africa in June 2010.

Another two suspects, including the alleged ringleader and the general's former driver, were acquitted.

The magistrate said the shooting of Gen Nyamwasa was politically motivated.

The general had gone to live in exile in South Africa several months earlier after falling out with his former ally, Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Rwanda has denied involvement in the shooting.

The sentences will handed down on 10 September.

The BBC's Nomsa Maseko says Gen Nyamwasa, his wife and daughter were in court to hear the verdict in Kagiso near Krugersdorp, about 25km (15 miles) north-west of Johannesburg.

"The magistrate has correctly observed that the conspiracy to kill me was politically motivated," he said afterwards.

'Paid in cash'

Rwandan businessman, Pascal Kanyandekwe, alleged to have been the mastermind of the assassination, was cleared of attempting to bribe South African police as they tried to arrest him near Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo airport in July 2010.

Sady Abdou, Hemedi Dendengo Sefu, Amani Uriwane, Richard Bachisa, Hassann Nduli and Pascal Kanyandekwe, six men accused of the attempted assassination of General Nyamwasa, former Rwanda chief of staff, listen on 28 August 2014 on the first day of their sentencing at the Kagiso Magistrate Court in Krugersdorp, South Africa — Six men accused of involvement in the assassination attempt pleaded not guilty

The items found in his possession proved he knew about conspiracy to murder but there was insufficient evidence to convict him, Magistrate Stanley Mkhari said.

Gen Nyamwasa and his wife had been returning to their home in Johannesburg from a shopping trip on 19 June 2010 when the would-be assassins approached their car.

The magistrate said that prosecutors had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that their Rwandan driver Richard Bachisa was involved in the plot.

The judge said it was clear the four other accused had met on a number of occasions to discuss plans to kill Gen Nyamwasa and that they were paid in cash.

Magistrate Mkhari said the plot was politically motivated and emanated "from a certain group of people from Rwanda".

He said he was satisfied that Hemedi Dendengo Sefu, a Tanzanian national, was the gunman and that Amani Uriwane, a Rwandan, Hassann Mohammedi Nduli and Sady Abdou - both Tanzanians - were his accomplices.

'Lucky to be alive'

Gen Nyamwasa helped Mr Kagame come to power and was appointed army chief of staff in 1998.

They had both been in the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel movement which put a stop to the country's genocide in 1994 after some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

Mr Kagame became president in 2000.

Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa

1994: Helped bring Paul Kagame to power and end genocide
1998: Appointed army chief of staff
2006: French judge accuses him of shooting down plane of Rwanda's ex-President Habyarimana in 1994, which sparked the genocide
2008: Spain accuses him of links to death of Spanish nuns
Feb 2010: Leaves post as ambassador to India, flees to South Africa
Accused of links to grenade attacks in Kigali
June 2010: Shot and wounded in Johannesburg
January 2011: Sentenced in absentia to 24 years by a military court

But their relationship soured and he was accused of undermining President Kagame, who some critics say runs a repressive regime.

Gen Nyamwasa said on Friday that he felt "lucky to be alive" - a second assassination attempt on him was foiled in 2011.

But he said his friend, Col Patrick Karegeya, a fellow exile and Rwanda's former intelligence chief, was not so fortunate.

The pair were convicted in absentia of threatening state security and went on to found the opposition Rwanda National Congress party.

Col Karegeya was strangled in mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in Johannesburg in January - no-one has yet been charged with his murder.

Rwanda's high commissioner to South Africa has denied allegations that government agents were involved.

Undated photo of Patrick Karegeya, Rwanda's former spy chief — Patrick Karegeya, Rwanda's former spy chief, was killed in mysterious circumstances in January

"The orders to kill me came from the highest office in Rwanda," Gen Nyamwasa said.

"I am not the only person whom Kagame finds as a threat. Many people from my home country had also fled to South Africa, just like me," he said.

"Every regime should be tolerant to its own people and to the opposition. I'm targeted because I'm able to talk. Talking to the press is a serious crime in Rwanda."

The Rwandan government has consistently denied trying to kill its opponents.

Comments

Africa Realities Media offre un espace aux écrivains, chercheurs, experts, activistes, voix communautaires, militants, analystes et personnes ayant une expérience vécue qui souhaitent contribuer à des contenus réfléchis, responsables et courageux sur les changements nécessaires dans la région des Grands Lacs, ainsi que sur les réalités politiques, économiques, culturelles et sociales africaines souvent ignorées, minimisées ou mal représentées. Nos articles et vidéos visent à ouvrir le débat, renforcer la sensibilisation, encourager la pensée critique et favoriser une réflexion plus profonde sur les réalités vécues par les populations africaines. Nous voulons aider les peuples de la région des Grands Lacs à mieux comprendre leurs droits, notamment leurs droits humains, leur droit au développement, leur droit à la dignité, à la sécurité, au bien-être et à une vie meilleure. À travers nos contenus, nous cherchons également à rappeler aux décideurs, aux institutions publiques, aux acteurs régionaux et internationaux, ainsi qu’aux responsables politiques, leur devoir de transparence, de responsabilité et de redevabilité envers les populations qu’ils prétendent servir. Notre objectif est de contribuer à une culture de vérité, de justice, de participation citoyenne et de protection égale pour tous les peuples africains.

Why Africa Realities Media Is Different

Africa Realities Media speaks to Africa and to the developed world. Many abuses facing African people are committed by African states and ruling elites, but they are often protected by international silence, lobbying, public relations, trade interests, migration deals and unequal global accountability. While governments pay lobbyists to present a good image abroad, ordinary African people continue to face violence, hunger, disease, poverty, repression and exclusion. We challenge the normalisation of African suffering and demand equal truth, equal justice and equal protection.

Pourquoi Africa Realities Media est différent?

Africa Realities Media s’adresse à l’Afrique et au monde développé. De nombreux abus subis par les peuples africains sont commis par des États africains et des élites dirigeantes, mais ils sont souvent protégés par le silence international, le lobbying, les relations publiques, les intérêts commerciaux, les accords migratoires et une responsabilité mondiale inégale. Tandis que des gouvernements paient des lobbyistes pour présenter une bonne image à l’étranger, des Africains ordinaires continuent de faire face à la violence, à la faim, aux maladies, à la pauvreté, à la répression et à l’exclusion. Nous contestons la normalisation de la souffrance africaine et exigeons une vérité égale, une justice égale et une protection égale.

Exposing Injustice in Africa

Africa Realities Media is an independent African accountability platform based in London. We report, analyse and challenge the systems that shape African suffering, silence African victims and protect abusive power. We are not here to repeat diplomatic language. We are here to ask the questions that are often avoided: why are African deaths treated as normal? Why are African victims given less urgency? Why are governments that imprison, exclude, displace or kill their own people protected when they serve powerful international interests?

Africa Realities Media gives space to writers, researchers, experts, activists, community voices, campaigners, analysts and people with lived experience who want to contribute thoughtful, responsible and courageous content about the changes needed in the region, as well as the political, economic, cultural and social African realities that are often ignored, minimised or misrepresented. Our articles and videos aim to encourage debate, raise awareness, stimulate critical thinking and support reflection. We seek to help people in the Great Lakes Region understand their rights to human rights, development and wellbeing, while also encouraging decision-makers to be more transparent, responsive and accountable.

Appel à contributions

Sensibilisez le public aux causes qui vous tiennent à cœur. Prenez part au changement que vous souhaitez voir émerger. Aidez à combattre l'injustice partout où elle se manifeste.

Africa Realities Media accueille des articles originaux, analyses, tribunes, réflexions communautaires et commentaires fondés sur des faits concernant la région des Grands Lacs africains, ainsi que les questions liées à la justice, aux droits humains, à la gouvernance, aux conflits, à la paix, aux réfugiés, aux ressources naturelles et à la responsabilité publique en Afrique.

Nous accueillons également les annonces concernant de nouvelles ou d'anciennes publications liées à nos domaines d'intérêt. Vous pouvez annoncer gratuitement votre publication, notamment un livre, un rapport, une étude, un article académique ou tout autre travail pertinent.

Les articles doivent être rédigés en anglais ou en français et ne doivent pas dépasser 1 500 mots.

Veuillez inclure le nom complet de l'auteur, qui sera publié avec l'article s'il est accepté.

Avant de soumettre votre article, veuillez d'abord lire nos pages du site web afin de vérifier si votre article correspond à nos priorités éditoriales, à nos thèmes et à nos domaines d'intérêt.

Si vous avez un article, un commentaire ou une annonce de publication à partager avec un public plus large, veuillez l'envoyer par email à :

africarealitiesmedia@gmail.com

Nous étudierons la possibilité de publier gratuitement les articles et annonces de publications appropriés s'ils répondent à nos critères éditoriaux, notamment la pertinence, la clarté, l'originalité, l'intérêt public, le respect des communautés concernées et l'utilisation responsable des informations et des preuves.

Les articles sont publiés tels qu'ils sont soumis s'ils répondent à nos critères et à notre politique éditoriale. Nous ne procédons pas à une modification supplémentaire de votre article avant sa publication.

Africa Realities Media | African Human Rights and Accountability

Search This Blog

About Africa Realities Media

Category Posts