Transparency International, the global civil society watchdog leading the fight against corruption, has welcomed the arrest of suspects in the 2013 murder of its employee Gustave Makonene.

This comes after Police in Kigali last week announced having in custody two of its officers - Corporals Nelson Iyakaremye and Isaac Ndabarinze – as prime suspects in the killing of Makonene, on July 17, 2013.

‘Respected employee’

A statement by Transparency International Secretariat states that Makonene was "a respected employee.”

"Makonene, our dear colleague, was a courageous man and we hope full investigation will not only bring the guilty to justice but alert the authorities of the need to protect the brave people who work to uncover corruption and put themselves at risk for the good of others,” said Huguette Labelle, chair of Transparency International.

Makonene, 33, joined Transparency International Rwanda in 2011 and was working as a coordinator of the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre in Rubavu at the time of his death.

"For the past year, Transparency International has called on the authorities to investigate fully the murder of our dear colleague Gustave and to find out the motive for his killing,” said Immaculée Ingabire, chair of Transparency International, Rwanda.

"We welcome this progress today and wait to hear more information about the investigation that led to the arrests.”

The killing

Last year, Makonene’s body was found by residents on the shores of Lake Kivu in Nyamvumba Sector, Rubavu District.

The Police say Makonene fell victim to a well orchestrated murder ploy after he discovered that the two murder suspects were aiding mineral smugglers to transit from DR Congo into Rwanda.Both suspects denied the allegations that they murdered Makonene.

The Prosecution is likely to prefer murder charges for the duo.