Rwanda: singer Kizito Mihigo arrested again?

Text by: RFI Follow

Many questions around the fate of the gospel singer Kizito Mihigo, unreachable since Thursday morning. His relatives believe him again behind bars, he who had been released following the election of Louise Mushikiwabo as head of the Francophonie. Announced by local media, his arrest has not been confirmed by the authorities, however.

Publicity

A photo is circulating on social networks. Kizito Mihigo is seen there alongside two other men, with travel bags at their feet. According to a single testimony collected by local media, the singer was seen on Thursday in the Nyaruguru district as he approached the Burundian border. Villagers are said to have reported him to the authorities.

UPDATE: Today early morning, villagers found Kizito Mihigo (LEFT) hiding in bush with large bag in Remera cell, Ruhero sector, Nyaruguru district. Spot is a shot distance from Burundi border. He gave them Rwf 300,000 ($ 321) but they refused, instead calling soldiers on patrol pic.twitter.com/eLKtwYV3Oz

But neither the police nor the Rwandan Bureau of Investigations confirm his arrest. His relatives assure him that he is well detained in Nyaruguru, his district of origin. But they question the testimony relayed by the press: " I am very surprised, he never talked about leaving Rwanda, " said one.

Previously regarded as an apostle of reconciliation and one of the most popular singers in Rwanda, Kizito Mihigo was arrested for the first time in 2014. He was then missing for several days before the authorities confirmed his detention.

The genocide survivor then spent four years behind bars, accused of links with the politico-military opposition in exile. He was finally released in September 2018. Since then, he was no longer in possession of his papers and had difficulty resuming his artistic and associative activities.

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