Rwanda summons SA ambassador

07 July 2010 - 11:27 By Sapa
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Kigali has summoned SA's ambassador to voice concern over the probe into the shooting last month in Johannesburg of a Rwandan general, Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo has told AFP.

Dissident Rwandan general Faustin Kayumba Nyamasa survived an assassination attempt in SA on June 19 which his wife and some opposition media in Rwanda have blamed on President Paul Kagame’s regime.

“I have summoned the SA ambassador (Gladstone Dumisani Gwadiso) on Tuesday to convey the concern of the Rwandan government over the way the investigation is carried out,” Mushikiwabo said.

“Some insinuations emanating from official circles in SA and carried in the media appear to be pointing a finger at the Rwandan government,” she said.

“Naturally, there is no truth to this. We find these insinuations very alarming,” the foreign minister added.

Earlier this month, the SA foreign ministry suggested foreign agents might have been involved in the assassination attempt but did not elbaorate as to which country they were from.

Mushikiwabo also alleged that a Rwandan businessman based in SA “was treated in a very unprofessional way during questioning” by investigators.

“His personal belongings and his money were not returned to him when he was released. Moreover, he was branded a killer during his interrogation,” she charged.

She also claimed that a member of Nyamasa’s family attended the interrogation. “In our opinion, it is not normal that a party involved in the case should be taking part in the enquiry.” “It saddens us coming from a country with which we have a very positive partnership, a country with which we have excellent ties,” Mushikiwabo added.

Days after Nyamasa’s shooting, an opposition journalist in Kigali who claimed to have uncovered evidence of the regime’s involvement was shot dead.

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