Africa-Press – Mozambique. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a statement calling for a swift and thorough investigation to hold the killers of Revocat Karemangingo, a Rwandan refugee in Maputo, accountable.
“UNHCR expresses its deepest condolences for the tragic death and calls for a swift and thorough investigation as well as the accountability of the perpetrators” of the crime, reads the document to which Lusa had access today.
The businessman was intercepted by armed unknown men outside his home and shot on Monday in the Liberdade neighbourhood in Matola, on the outskirts of Maputo, the UN agency recalled.
“He was known to UNHCR as an example of resilience for his efforts to integrate and contribute to Mozambican society,” it concluded.
The crime is being investigated by the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic).
According to Cleophas Habiyareme, president of the Association of Rwandan Refugees in Mozambique, the murdered businessman was the target of political persecution, like other opponents of Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
This is the third incident involving Rwandan refugees in Mozambique this year, after the disappearance in May of journalist Ntamuhanga Cassien who lived on the island of Inhaca, Maputo.
Less than a month ago, Habiyareme advanced, the association’s secretary and his brother were targeted in an attempted kidnapping.
“The whole Rwandan refugee community is terrified,” said Habiyareme, who nevertheless hopes that Mozambique will continue to respect the Geneva Convention and the rights of refugees by clearing up all cases.
Since July, Rwandan troops have been in the country to help fight the armed insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, under bilateral agreements between the two countries.
