Implicated by captured rebel

KIGALI - The Rwanda National Police yesterday detained the embattled leader of the yet-to-be-registered political party, FDU-Inkingi Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza on suspicion of being involved in subversive activities.

Ingabire was arrested after she was allegedly implicated by Maj Vital Uwumuremyi, a former rebel commander in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) who was intercepted trying to sneak across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Rwanda border.

Both Uwumuremyi and Ingabire are being held at Kicukiro Police Station before being handed over to public prosecution authorities, police said.

"Police confirms the arrest of Uwumuremyi on October 13 on charges of forming a terrorist organization known as Coalition of Democratic Forces (CDF) which is a military wing of the FDU-Inkingi,” a statement released by Police Spokesperson, Eric Kayiranga, reads.

"The charges include buying and distributing arms and ammunitions to the terrorist organization; and threatening national security and public order. Major Uwumuremyi was arrested as he attempted to sneak across the border to the DRC at La Corniche border post travelling on a Congolese document with fake identification,” it adds.

According to Police, Ingabire was arrested after investigations revealed that the charges against Uwumuremyi also implicate her.

According to reports, undercover detectives on Wednesday nabbed Uwumuremyi with a fake Congolese document under the names of Dieudonné Katumba trying to sneak back into the DRC.

When he was interrogated, he gave details of his plans to form a new rebel group and named Ingabire as one of his accomplices.

He had earlier this year surrendered to the Rwandan forces along with ex-FDLR spokesman Lt-Col. Michel Habimana alias Edmond Ngarambe and Capt. Pontien Nkeramihigo alias Richard Amani, but had returned to his subversive activities.

Police says Uwumuremyi had been trying to recruit fighters on behalf of CDF, and was heading to the DRC in possession of an ID under the same nom-de-geurre he used in the bushes of DRC.

The new accusations against Ingabire come as she is still battling charges of association with a terrorist group, propagating the Genocide Ideology, Revisionism and Ethnic Division. She was out on bail but is not allowed to travel outside the country.

Ingabire was earlier this year charged with two other senior FDLR officers for planning activities aimed at causing state insecurity.

Lt. Col Tharcisse Nditurende and Lt. Col Noel Habiyaremye, who were senior commanders of the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) militia, admitted having worked with Ingabire and Paul Rusesabagina to form a separate rebel group that would launch an offensive against Rwanda.

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