On New Year's Day in a hotel outside Johannesburg, South Africa, a former top official of the Rwandan government was found dead.
On New Year's Day in a hotel outside Johannesburg, South Africa, a former top official of the Rwandan government was found dead.
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Death Of Colonel Patrick Karegeya
Colonel Patrick Karegeya, who had served as chief of the Rwandan external intelligence services before going into exile in 2007, went to attend a meeting at the hotel on December 31. His body was discovered in one of the guestrooms, apparently strangled to death. South African police are investigating the case. In a January 9 statement, South African authorities pledged to “leave no stone unturned” in bringing to justice those responsible for this “criminal act.”
President Kagame’s January 12 statement regarding the “consequences” for individuals believed to have “betrayed” Rwanda is very disturbing.
Rwandan opposition leaders have alleged that as a critic of President Paul Kagame, Col. Karegeya was the victim of political foul play.
The United States condemns Col. Karegeya’s murder. We also are troubled by press reports over the course of years on killings of prominent Rwandan exiles abroad that have appeared to be politically motivated. President Kagame’s January 12 statement regarding the “consequences” for individuals believed to have “betrayed” Rwanda is very disturbing.
We welcome the South African Government’s prompt and thorough investigation into Col. Karegeya's death and await the outcome of that investigation.
