Rwanda Army Tortured Suspected Rebels, Opponents, Group Says

KIGALI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rwanda’s military detained suspected rebels and supporters of an exiled opposition group, subjecting them to beatings, mock executions and electric shocks, Human Rights Watch said.

The New York-based advocacy group has confirmed 104 cases of people illegally detained, many of whom were tortured, in army detention centres between 2010 and 2016, it said Tuesday in a report. The total number is probably higher because of the secret nature of the abuse and detainees’ fears of speaking out, while judges and prosecutors ignored complaints, according to Human Rights Watch.

Justice Minister Johnston Busingye didn’t respond to three phone calls, a text message and an email seeking comment.

Most victims were detained on suspicion of belonging to or working with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, an armed group that participated in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and is based in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has committed “horrific abuses,” Human Rights Watch said. Others were accused of collaborating with the Rwanda National Congress, an exiled opposition group that includes former members of the ruling party, or with the jailed president of FDU-Inkingi, a banned party, it said.

Source: Bloomberg Business News