Patrick Karegeya 'murder': Mozambique holds Rwandan suspects
Patrick Karegeya formed an opposition party in 2010
Four Rwandans have been detained in Mozambique in connection with the apparent murder of Rwanda's ex-intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya, Mozambican police say.
The body of Mr Karegeya was found in a hotel in South Africa on 1 January.
A Mozambican police spokesman confirmed that the four suspects were detained a week ago.
It comes as no surprise that suspects are Rwandan and I think most observers have expected that the Rwandan Government was behind this murder.
Mr Karegeya was stripped of the rank of colonel after falling out with his ex-ally, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.
His allies say he was killed by government agents - a charge denied by Rwanda's high commissioner to South Africa.
Rwanda lies, that is the standard response of the Rwandan government even when presented with evidence that would stand up in any jurisdiction in the world. At this point it is worth remembering that the suspects are just that suspects, but should it credibly emerge that they are behind this operation the standard in the west is " beyond reasonable doubt " then once again Rwanda will have lied to the world and more importantly to the South African government about committing crime on South African territory.
Mozambique police spokesman Joao Machava told the Associated Press news agency that one of those detained in Mozambique, which neighbours South Africa, was a senior official in the Rwandan army.
Just one ?
South African police say Mr Karegeya, 53, might have been strangled. A rope and bloodied towel were found in the safe of the hotel room where his body was discovered, they said.
Mr Karegeya, who formed a Rwandan opposition party in exile in 2010, had lived for the past six years in South Africa, where he had been granted political asylum.
It is interesting that South Africa had given him a security detail but it was withdrawn in 2012, South Africa obviously has no illusions about the regime in Kigali.
" It was reported in the South African press that Karegeya had agreed to dispense with his South African security detail in 2012. The government of South Africa had provided the protection since Karegeya’s arrival in South Africa in 2007. The decision to provide protection was reportedly influenced by assassination attempts against former army chief of staff Kayumba Nyamwasa, another Rwandan exile in South Africa. "
Earlier this week, President Kagame warned that those who betrayed Rwanda would face "consequences", without mentioning any names.
Kagame will brook no opposition at all. Ask Victoire Ingabire about the state of democracy in Rwanda.
Rwandan dissidents in several Western countries, including the UK and US, say local security agents have warned them of plots to kill them.
The Rwandan government has denied trying to kill its opponents.
Mr Kagame, who has been accused of not tolerating opposition, maintains that Rwanda needs a strong government to prevent a return to ethnic conflict.
There is a huge difference between political representation and ethnic conflict, it is also worth noting that Patrick Karegeya was part of the Kigali political elite which tends to suggest this has nothing to do with the ethnic conflict red herring.
Patrick Karegeya was part of the opposition ( in exile ) Rwandan National Congress.
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