The High Court in Musanze District on Monday remanded two women over aiding terrorists and abetting terrorism. The women are believed to be wives of operatives of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terror group operating in DR Congo. Mujawimana and Francoise Twizeyimana, both relatives of Maj. Juvenal Bizumuremyi—believed to be the FDLR head of intelligence unit—pleaded guilty to some of the charges but said they acted out of ignorance. Court led by Felix Bizumuremyi, heard that the duo held meetings with family members to chart ways of sending support to their brother in DR Congo. They are also accused of collaborating with Murwanashyaka and failure to alert authorities yet they knew about his subversive activities. Prosecution told court that Mujawimana, 44, crossed into DR Congo to meet her brother four times, and during the meetings, they discussed plans to carry out terror activities on Rwandan territory. They also linked Murwanashyaka to many other Rwandans with whom they planned subversive activities against Rwanda, mainly targeting Musanze and Rubavu towns. Court also heard that Mujawimana at one time bought a Simcard, registered it in her name, and gave it to Murwanashyaka to facilitate communication with the FDLR network in the country. The suspects, who pleaded guilty of collaborating with FDLR, apologised and said they were not aware of the gravity of the crime. They were remanded for 30 days. Meanwhile, the same court freed 10 people, who are also said to have been contacted by Murwanashyaka either directly or through the two women, after prosecution failed to prove they were well aware of the man’s evil intentions. The FDLR militia is largely composed of elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed the lives of more than a million people in Rwanda.
