Rwanda: International Community Reacts To Death Of Singer Kizito Mihigo

Text by: RFI Follow

Rwandan singer Kizito Mihigo is expected to be buried this Saturday, February 22. International human rights organizations are calling for an independent investigation into the artist's death in detention. The international community is just beginning to emerge from its silence.

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According to Rwandan authorities, Kizito Mihigo committed suicide in his cell at the Remera police station with " bed sheets ", even though they promised an investigation. Questioned by his opponents, inside and outside the country for this umpteenth suspicious death of dissident, Kigali does not dismantle and accuses the " genocidaires, Holocaust deniers, armed groups and foreigners " a " political exploitation of his death ".

The United Kingdom is the only major donor in Rwanda to say that it is saddened by this death in detention. London says it expects a " prompt, independent and transparent investigation from the Rwandan authorities ".

It must be said that this affair is very popular on the Anglo-Saxon side, especially within the Commonwealth, while Kigali is preparing to host the summit of this economic community in June. Organizations such as the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative promise to be vigilant about the results of the investigations.

The United States has also responded through the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa. Tibor Nagy is concerned about Kigali's promptness to qualify this death as suicide even before the autopsy.

In the European Union, where Rwanda is still described as a model, no concern has been expressed. The European Commission " notes " the opening of an investigation which, according to its spokesperson, " will make it possible to clarify the circumstances of the death of Kizito Mihigo ".

No reaction however from Paris. At the time of France's support for Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo's candidacy to head the organization of La Francophonie , Paris would have asked for the release of singer Kizito Mihigo to silence critics of this controversial choice. French diplomats touted to convince this " sign of openness ". Since then, four dissidents, including Kizito Mihigo, have disappeared or died under suspicious circumstances.

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