RWANDA: OPPOSITION FIGURE ALEXIS BAKUNZIBAKE KIDNAPPED IN KIGALI

Kigali, 05 September 2012-According to eye witnesses, Mr. Alexis Bakunzibake, first Vice president of the Parti Social Imberakuri (PSI), was kidnapped today at 12:50 by armed individuals who took off in a tinted jeep that was later escorted by a patrolling police vehicle in Biryogo location (Nyarugenge sector,Kigali city). His whereabouts are unknown. Our colleagues alerted the National Police headquarters, but the spokesperson Theos Badege declined to comment.

Mr. Alexis Bakunzibake, first Vice president of the Parti Social Imberakuri (PSI)

This is very troubling in a country where outspoken journalists and politicians have disappeared or died in mysterious circumstances in and outside Rwanda. Some political leaders have been assassinated while many others are languishing in prison for politically motivated charges. On 14 July 2010, the first Vice President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, the late André Kagwa Rwisereka, was found murdered and partially beheaded in Butare. The international community urged for an independent investigation but nothing was done.

The chairman of the PSI, Mr. Bernard Ntaganda is in Kigali maximum prison serving a 4 year sentence on charges relating to illegal protest and divisionism. The top leader of FDU-Inkingi, Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, is expecting a life sentence this Friday 07 September 2012, after two years in maximum prison. Mr. Deogratias Mushayidi, President of PDP Imanzi, is serving a life sentence in Mpanga prison for politically motivated counts.

We demand an immediate release of Mr. Alexis Bakunzibake.

 

FDU-Inkingi

Boniface Twagirimana

Interim Vice President.