Rwandan activist, Nkurunziza, killed in South Africa

Camir Nkurunziza

Rwandan activist, Nkurunziza, killed in South Africa

Camir Nkurunziza, a Rwandan refugee in South Africa and political activist, was shot dead on Thursday in Cape Town, a member of the exiled party, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), has told the BBC.

Nkurunziza was until recently a member of the RNC, which campaigns against the government of President Paul Kagame.

Before he fled Rwanda he had served in the presidential guard.

Mr Nkurunziza’s car was hijacked before he was shot, the RNC’s Epimaque Munyaneza said.

He may have been killed in a shoot-out between the police and the hijackers.

Police in South Africa have not confirmed Mr Nkurunziza’s death but told the BBC they were investigating the reports.

In 2013, one of the RNC’s founders, Patrick Karegeya, was killed in his hotel room in Johannesburg.

Another opposition figure, Kayumba Nyamwasa, survived an assassination attempt in 2010, also in South Africa.

The RNC blames both attacks on the Rwandan authorities.

Rwanda has denied involvement in either case, although shortly after Mr Karegeya’s death, President Kagame said: “You can’t betray Rwanda and not get punished for it.” (BBC)