Public warned over collaboration with terrorist groups

Security officials have warned the public over collaborating with terrorist groups bent on destabilising the country. The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, told journalists at a press briefing on Friday that some groups like the DR Congo-based Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda militia (FDLR) have ill intentions against Rwanda. The FDLR is largely composed of elements widely blamed for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which claimed the lives of an estimated one million people in a record 100 days. The group, blacklisted by the United Nations and United States as a terrorist organisation, has been accused of committing gross human rights violations in eastern DR Congo and neighbouring countries for close to two decades. Harerimana referred to recent revelations that an unregistered splinter section of PS-Imberakuri political party and other groups in the Diaspora were joining hands with FDLR. “Should anyone show interest in working with FDLR or other terrorist groups, then the police will do its work to investigate the matter. That’s why we would like to inform the public to distance themselves from such intentions,” he said. Flanked by the Commissioner for Criminal Investigations Department (CID), ACP Theos Badege, the minister said that the government had evidence of links between FDLR and some people based in South Africa and other countries. “We shall investigate and apply the law when a political party, a group of people, or individuals mobilising funds or recruiting members announce that they are joining terrorist groups,” the minister said. A number of suspected terrorists linked to FDLR have been arrested in Kigali in the last few months over grenade attacks in various parts of the country. Those apprehended testified that they were deployed by the FDLR. On July 26 last year, three people were killed by a grenade attack in Kigali’s commercial hub of Nyabugogo. Jean de Dieu Ntakirutimana, a.k.a Rafiki, and Jean de Dieu Mugaboniki, confessed they carried out the attack on instructions of a top FDLR commander. Badege said it was imperative for the public to be informed about what the law says on terrorism to help people refrain from joining terrorist groups. “Our work is to investigate and we don’t want people to get trapped unknowingly. It’s therefore important for the public to be informed about these activities,” he said. The officer said that some terrorism activities have been discovered in the country, such as carrying out propaganda for terrorist groups, soliciting funds for the groups, as well as other related activities.