RWANDA: 37 petty criminals killed, HRW says

Rwandan authorities have summarily executed “at least 37” people accused of committing minor criminal offences, instead of prosecuting them, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. The government in Kigali denies that any extrajudicial killings took place. Most of the alleged victims were accused of theft – in one case stealing bananas. Others were accused of smuggling […]

Rwandan authorities have summarily executed “at least 37” people accused of committing minor criminal offences, instead of prosecuting them, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.

The government in Kigali denies that any extrajudicial killings took place.

Most of the alleged victims were accused of theft – in one case stealing bananas.

Others were accused of smuggling marijuana, illegally entering the country, or using illegal fishing nets.

Human Rights Watch says the executions took place between July 2016 and March 2017 in western Rwanda.

They believe it is part of an official strategy to “spread fear, enforce order and deter any resistance to government orders or policies”.

Witnesses told HRW the fate of one man, accused of stealing a cow, was decided in a community meeting. Fulgence Rukundo was questioned about the stolen cow, then taken to a community meeting with the district mayor.