Hundreds of Rwandans today gathered at the British High commission located in Kacyiru, Kigali city to protest the arrest of a Rwandan General Emmanuel Karenzi Karake who was arrested in London on June 20, 2015
UK envoy to Rwanda, Ambassador William Gelling was at the Embassy building at the time of the protest but was not harmed as protest carried placards with inscriptions such as “demeaning Africans is not acceptable, free Gen. Karenzi Karake”
The groups, which kept flocking in segments and pilling up by the hours, also chanted songs to call for respect of Rwandans and the country’s sovereignty.
Karake who is the head of Rwandan National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) in Rwanda was arrested in London on June 20, 2015, on a European arrest warrant following a request issued by a Spanish judge.
Several human rights activities have rebuked the UK for its action and called for Karake’s immediate release. The Human Rights Watch said early today that they are monitoring the case of Emmanuel Karenzi Karake.
Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda’s foreign minister, called the arrest “an outrageous act” adding: “Western solidarity in demeaning Africans is unacceptable”.
While Andrew Mitchell, former international development secretary, said he believed the arrest was a “reprehensible abuse” of the law.