Rwanda
Controversy is growing in Rwanda following the death in custody of a government critic, with rights groups and opposition figures calling for an independent investigation.
Aimable Karasira died on Wednesday from a drug overdose, according to Rwandan authorities.
But Human Rights Watch called Karasira’s death suspicious, saying Kigali bore the burden of proving he was not unlawfully killed.
The group said Karasira had been the victim harassment and persecution by the authorities for years.
Human Rights Watch said several deaths of detainees and high-profile political critics in state custody had gone unexplained by Rwandan authorities.
“The Rwandan government has a well-established track record of evading its obligation to ensure transparent and independent investigations into the deaths of detainees and high-profile political critics in state custody,” it said in a statement.
It cited the 2020 death in a police cell of singer and government critic Kizito Mihigo. He had been arrested only four days earlier as he tried to flee the country.
The government ruled Mihigo’s death a suicide.
Karasira was arrested in 2021, charged with several crimes relating to genocide denial and sowing division.
He was convicted of some offenses and acquitted of others.
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