A group of Rwandans who had been arrested and detained in Democratic Republic of Congo detention facilities in Goma town have regained their freedom, after paying ‘freedom money’.

Akimana Harerimana, Safari Ntabareshya, Beatrice Budamu, Saleh Mahotwa and Hamisi Mubaraka, all residents of Gisenyi town in Rubavu District, returned to Rwanda last week after spending weeks in Munzenze Central Prison in Goma. Immigration authority figures had indicated that 12 Rwandans had been arrested in Goma in mid September.

Emanuel Rutayisire, 50, and another identified only as Nyirasafari  had been released earlier after paying $1500 and $250 respectively in ransom to Congolese officials.

An official at Rubavu immigration office confirmed that the group and others whose names were not readily available secured their freedom last Thursday.

"They walked in by themselves,” the official told The New Times.

As was the case with those released earlier, the latest group to be released also ‘bought’ their freedom from DRC officials.

"They paid $400 each to get released. Their families brokered the deal with DRC prosecutors,” the official who asked not to be named said.

The official explained that according to their list, all those who were known to have been arrested have been released. He, however, added that authorities will continue to establish whether there could be others who might have escaped their notice.

Earlier, the governor of the Western Province, Penelope Kantarama had complained that her north Kivu counterparts had snubbed several meetings aimed at discussing issues of mistreatment of Rwandans visiting DR Congo’s towns of Goma and Bukavu.

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