The Rwandan government has imposed sanctions on 25 individuals accused of terrorism and terrorism financing. The list, released by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) on October 14, includes members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as other groups such as the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and the National Liberation Front (FLN).
The sanctions list is topped by Lt Gen Gaston Iyamuremye, the president of the FDLR, who is also known as Victor Byiringiro. Iyamuremye, 76, is accused of planning and coordinating terrorism activities, extortion, and illegal taxation to finance terrorism. He is currently believed to be living in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Other notable individuals on the list include Maj Gen Pacifique Ntawunguka, the commander of the FDLR-FOCA, and Col Sylvestre Sebahinzi, a member of the FDLR and an active mobilizer of financial support for the group. Sebahinzi is currently based in Lusaka, Zambia, and is connected to the FDLR’s financial flows.
The list also includes individuals accused of supporting terrorism against Rwanda, such as Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a founding member of the RNC, and Dr Emmanuel Hakizimana, a co-founder of the RNC and a member of the MRCD movement. Nyamwasa is currently based in Pretoria, South Africa, while Hakizimana is based in Montreal, Canada.
The sanctions are part of Rwanda’s efforts to combat terrorism and terrorism financing. The FIC has called on individuals and organizations to report any information that may lead to the disruption of terrorist activities. The sanctions list is a significant step in Rwanda’s fight against terrorism, and it is expected to have a major impact on the activities of the groups and individuals listed.
The international community has been urged to cooperate with Rwanda in combating terrorism and terrorism financing. The sanctions list is a reminder that terrorism is a global threat that requires a collective response. Rwanda’s efforts to combat terrorism are part of a broader regional and international effort to prevent and counter terrorism.
The sanctions list includes individuals from various countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, South Africa, Canada, and the United States. This highlights the global nature of terrorism and the need for international cooperation to combat it. The Rwandan government has called on all countries to take action against individuals and groups that support terrorism.