Musician, journalist arrested in Rwanda, accused of working with opposition groups

KIGALI, Rwanda – Police in Rwanda say they have arrested a musician and a journalist for alleged links to opposition groups.

Rwandan police said Monday they arrested Kizito Mihigo, a genocide survivor and prominent singer and composer of music on the genocide, and Cassien Ntamuhanga, who until recently was the director of a Christian radio station.

The two are accused of working for an opposition political group, the Rwanda National Congress, and the FDLR, an opposition rebel in Congo. The police statement said the two are planning the “violent overthrow of the government.”

Kizito was until recently close to the government and had sung the national anthem in front of President Paul Kagame. His reconciliation programs, which brought together genocide victims and perpetrators, had been embraced by the government.