Hiiraan Online

KIGALI (All Africa) - The recent killing of four people in a crackdown on suspected terror groups linked to the Islamic State and Al Shabaab in Rwanda has reignited a debate about radicalisation of youth in the country. On August 17, police shot and killed Channy Mbonigaba, a terror suspect in Kigali's Nyarutarama suburb. On August 19, police shot dead three more suspects linked to Al Shabaab in Bugarama sector in the southwestern district of Rusizi.

During the operation, three more people were injured. According to police, the six, who were suspected of radicalising youth in the area, were resisting arrest. Those killed during the operation were identified as Eric Mbarushimana, Hassan Nkwaya and Mussa Bugingo. The other three -- Shafi Cyiza, Lafiffah Morina, and Abubakar Ngabonziza -- were arrested and detained pending investigations.

The killing of the four followed the January shooting of Muhammad Mugemangango, a deputy Imam of Kimironko Mosque, who police said was attempting to flee after he had been arrested on suspicion of terrorism. Mugemangango was accused of radicalising Muslim youth and recruiting them to join terror groups. Police say radicalisation material, including audio CDs and books, have been seized in most, if not all the incidents. The Muslim Community in Rwanda said that while there are growing concerns, the incident can be treated as isolated cases and that there are efforts to control radicalisation of Muslim youth.

 

According to Sheikh Musa Sindayigaya, the spokesperson of the Muslim community in Rwanda, the religion is concerned by the cases of radicalisation among pockets of Muslim youth.

 

"It is something we are aware of, there are some elements looking to radicalise Muslim youth using wrong teachings. This tarnishes our image as a religion, but we have come up with measures to combat it," Sheikh Sindayigaya said. "We are conscious to this problem and we have begun sensitising our youth to shun acts of religious radicalism but we don't think it is out of control yet," he added.

Sheikh Sindayigaya blamed individuals who are not affiliated to the religion of propagating misleading teachings, as well as technology, noting that most of the materials are picked on the Internet."In the new era of technology, it is hard to control what our children can access on the Internet. We are aware that most of these materials are picked from the Internet," he said, adding that the Islamic community has come up with its own manuals to counter such teachings. In July, the High Council of Muslims in Rwanda announced that it had banned the religious garb niqab, which was welcomed by police as a measure to bolster security and combat terrorism."Rwanda police support any decision by any institution, religious denominations and other civil society organisation that aims at complementing existing policies and initiatives to ensure maximum security," a police statement said.

However, sections in the Muslim community have raised concerns over the manner in which police is handling cases of terror suspects, with some saying that killing suspects before arresting them could cause more harm than good. The case of Channy Mbonigaba, who was among those shot last week, has sparked controversy in regard to the manner police conducted itself as well as the whereabouts of six colleagues of his who were rounded up by police. Sources told The EastAfrican that the group of seven had been secretly arrested by people thought to be security operatives during a terror crackdown carried out in January this year. The story of two young men and how they won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan. Based on a true story

Mbonigaba aka Sef, married with two children and previously operated a clothes shop in Rubavu town, had allegedly been in custody for the past seven months until recently when information emerged that he was shot dead in a gunfire exchange with the police in Kigali. Security organs haven't provided further details on the incident, and conditions under which it transpired, or whether Mbonigaba lived in the house located in Kigali's high-end suburb of Nyarutarama where he was shot dead.

Friend and relatives had not seen or heard from him for the last seven months."We kept this whole time waiting that we could hear that he is appearing in court because we believed he was held by the security organs," a relative to Mbonigaba told The EastAfrican. "It is beyond everyone's understanding how someone held by security organs for eight months gets access to guns. Someone whom I know never knew operating a gun," the relative said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. The whereabouts of the rest of his colleagues reportedly arrested during the same time for alleged links with terrorists remain unclear. Of them, The EastAfrican only identified Fundi Salim aka Babouji, a footballer; Ally, a married former clothes dealer; and Amri who owned a tea and chapati stall. While dozens await trial, some families related to the suspects say they have been held incognito and are hoping that they will be arraigned in court.

While some members of the Muslim community in Rubavu appear to have no clue about the victims' alleged link with the terrorists, The EastAfrican obtained information that Rubavu, which counts the highest number of Muslims in the country, had earlier been the target for youth recruitments by 'jihadists'. A source said the group of Mbonigaba and fellows was the first cohort, adding that seven of them had earlier travelled to an unknown place through the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo where they spent more than a year.

Amani Manirahari, a fellow Muslim who had known them for years said: "It is a fact everyone here knows about, that they had left 'to join jihad' but they later returned and continued life as usual. So when we heard that they were arrested we suspected that it is related... government wanted to investigate them." However, some disagree with shooting suspects dead and say they should be arrested and arraigned in court instead. "They should be arrested alive and given a day in court. Police has the capacity to arrest them without shooting to kill," a concerned relative said.

However, the spokesperson of the Muslim community dismissed the claims that police is using excessive force in dealing with the matter. "The police shoots when it is the last option, when it is facing danger. Of course family members of these suspects get emotional when their people are affected, but we believe the police is handling this matter in a professional manner," said Sheikh Sindayigaya.Currently over 20 people suspected of engaging in terror related activities are in detention. Last week, the prosecution spokesperson Faustin Nkusi said that their files are being compiled and they will be arraigned in court as soon as possible.