The Rwanda army has arrested Lt. Col. Rugigana Ngabo, a brother to renegade Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa, over alleged "individual criminal liability".
Gen. Nyamwasa, a former Chief of Staff in the Rwanda army, fled Rwanda through Uganda and Kenya in February, after falling out with President Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front leadership.
Two months ago, Gen. Nyamwasa survived an assassination attempt in the South African city of Johannesburg, where he sought asylum. Without divulging into what the "individual criminal liability" charge means, the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) said on Saturday that Col. Ngabo was being investigated for involving himself in activities related to insecurity.
The spokesperson of the RDF, Lt. Col. Jill Rutaremara, told the local press on Saturday evening that, "the RDF on Friday arrested Lt. Col. Ngabo because of his engagement in activities related to insecurity and is currently being held by the military".
Although he did not give details, the army spokesperson added that Col. Ngabo's arrest had nothing to do with his relationship to Gen. Nyamwasa who continues to live in exile in South Africa.
Framing claims
Gen. Nyamwasa after fleeing accused President Kagame of using an anti-corruption campaign to frame opponents. On June 19, as the world's attention was on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Gen. Nyamwasa was shot by an assailant in a Johannesburg suburb as he returned with his wife from shopping.
One of the two bullets fired at Gen. Nyamwasa hit him on the stomach and he underwent surgery. The case is still pending in a South African court.
Kigali, however, wants Gen. Nyamwasa back to answer charges of terrorism for his alleged connection to the bomb blasts which rocked the Rwanda capital early this year.
Gen. Nyamwasa denies any involvement in the bombings. Just days after the August 9 presidential poll in which Mr Kagame won overwhelmingly with over 90 per cent, a grenade was thrown into a rush-hour crowd in Kigali, wounding at least seven people. Analysts said the attack appeared to be aimed at igniting a political crisis.
Latest indictment
Lt. Col. Ngabo, who until his arrest has been the Commanding Officer of the Engineering Regiment, is the latest high profile indictment of a senior officer of the Rwandan military, this year.
Early this year, two of Rwanda's senior army officials, Lt. Gen. Charles Muhire and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, were suspended and arrested on charges of corruption and immoral conduct respectively.
Gen. Nyamwasa, a former Chief of Staff in the Rwanda army, fled Rwanda through Uganda and Kenya in February, after falling out with President Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front leadership.
Two months ago, Gen. Nyamwasa survived an assassination attempt in the South African city of Johannesburg, where he sought asylum. Without divulging into what the "individual criminal liability" charge means, the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) said on Saturday that Col. Ngabo was being investigated for involving himself in activities related to insecurity.
The spokesperson of the RDF, Lt. Col. Jill Rutaremara, told the local press on Saturday evening that, "the RDF on Friday arrested Lt. Col. Ngabo because of his engagement in activities related to insecurity and is currently being held by the military".
Although he did not give details, the army spokesperson added that Col. Ngabo's arrest had nothing to do with his relationship to Gen. Nyamwasa who continues to live in exile in South Africa.
Framing claims
Gen. Nyamwasa after fleeing accused President Kagame of using an anti-corruption campaign to frame opponents. On June 19, as the world's attention was on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Gen. Nyamwasa was shot by an assailant in a Johannesburg suburb as he returned with his wife from shopping.
One of the two bullets fired at Gen. Nyamwasa hit him on the stomach and he underwent surgery. The case is still pending in a South African court.
Kigali, however, wants Gen. Nyamwasa back to answer charges of terrorism for his alleged connection to the bomb blasts which rocked the Rwanda capital early this year.
Gen. Nyamwasa denies any involvement in the bombings. Just days after the August 9 presidential poll in which Mr Kagame won overwhelmingly with over 90 per cent, a grenade was thrown into a rush-hour crowd in Kigali, wounding at least seven people. Analysts said the attack appeared to be aimed at igniting a political crisis.
Latest indictment
Lt. Col. Ngabo, who until his arrest has been the Commanding Officer of the Engineering Regiment, is the latest high profile indictment of a senior officer of the Rwandan military, this year.
Early this year, two of Rwanda's senior army officials, Lt. Gen. Charles Muhire and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, were suspended and arrested on charges of corruption and immoral conduct respectively.
