163:, condemned the arrest and stated: "Serious allegations of torture and witness tampering emerged during the flawed trial in 2016. The court of appeals had an opportunity to investigate these allegations and hold those responsible to account, but instead they doubled down on the decision to stamp out criticism of government policy and action.”
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Tom
Byabagamba was arrested on August 23, 2014. The prosecution claimed that he had alleged Rwandan state involvement in several murders. They also accused him of alleging the innocence of convicted terrorist and former presidential bodyguard Joel Mutabazi and of criticizing increased Rwandan taxes
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Byabagamba's brother, David
Himbara, is a former economic adviser to President Kagame. He fled the country after observing the President's abusive behavior towards both allies and dissidents. After Himbara left, President Kagame ordered Mr. Byabagamba to bring his brother back to Rwanda, and when he
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On
November 4, 2019, six British legislators sent a letter to President Paul Kagame which conveyed concern over the ongoing detention of Rusagara and Byabagamba. They stated: "We commend Rwanda’s progress over the last three decades, particularly the strides it has made in creating a more inclusive
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on behalf of
Rusagara, Byabagamba, and Kabayiza. In December 2017, the Working Group determined that their detention was arbitrary and violated international law. In February 2018, the Rwandan government denied the allegations and claimed it was not aware of the UN Working Group's communications.
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and a former head of the
Presidential Guard unit. He was arrested and charged with inciting insurrection and tarnishing the government's image. Initially sentenced to 21 years imprisonment, he is now serving 15 years after the Court of Appeal in Kigali reduced his sentence while upholding his
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In
December 2019, the Court of Appeal in Kigali upheld his conviction while reducing his sentence to 15 years. The Court also stripped Byabagamba of his rank. During the appeal, he told the court that he was subject to solitary and confinement and close surveillance by cameras.
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society that has drawn in marginalized populations. However, we are troubled that Rwanda has imposed disproportionate sentences on individuals who are suffering from serious health issues in poor prison conditions,”. In response, Rwanda justice minister
312:"Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its sixty-fifth session (20-24 November 2017) Opinion No. 85/2017 concerning Franck Kanyambo Rusagara, Tom Byabagamba and François Kabayiza (Rwanda)"
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102:, as well as Rusagara's driver, retired Sergeant François Kabayiza. On March 31, 2016, the court found Byabagamba guilty of all charges against him and sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment.
524:"Freedom Now – Individual Submission To The Office Of The High Commissioner For Human Rights, Universal Periodic Review ("UPR"): Rwanda, 37th Session Human Rights Council – UPR Working Group"
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stated "It would be inappropriate for the
Executive to comment on any pending case, seek to influence the outcome or intervene as proposed in your letter,”.
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Tom
Byabagamba is a decorated former military officer of the Rwandan Defense Force. He worked in the personal protection detail of President
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from 1990 to 2010. In 2003, he was appointed as head of the
Republican Guard and was personally responsible for the President's security.
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which stated that "judges have failed to adequately address allegations of torture during interrogation” in the trial of
Byabagamba.
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On January 5, 2016, he was tried jointly in the Kanombe Military High Court with his brother-in-law Brigadier-General (rtd)
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On December 4, 2018, Kate Barth, then Legal Director at Freedom Now, highlighted the case while testifying before the
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Byabagamba's arrest was part of a series of arrests against former members of Rwanda's ruling party, the
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441:"Written Remarks for Tom Lantos Commission Briefing: Rwanda Human Rights and Political Prisoners"
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Former Colonel of the Rwanda Defense Force and former head of the Presidential Guard Unit.
390:"Rwanda's response to the Opinion 85/2017 of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention"
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refused to intervene, Byabagamba lost his position as Commander of the Republican Guard.
364:"Freedom Now Files Petition to UN on behalf of Three Former Rwandan Military Officers"
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416:"Rwanda: Submission To The African Commission On Human And Peoples' Rights"
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United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (January 4, 2018).
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152:. This report was delivered on March 19, 2020, in advance of Rwanda's
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conviction in 2019. The court also stripped Byabagamba of his rank.
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U.S. House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
271:"Rwanda rejects British legislators' call to free officers"
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496:"Rwanda: Human Rights and Political Prisoners (Part Two)"
470:"Rwanda: Human Rights and Political Prisoners (Part One)"
240:"Byabagamba and Rusagara sentences reduced to 15 years"
338:"Rwanda: Ex-Military Officers Convicted Over Comments"
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139:African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
121:In July 2017, human rights focused non-profit
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414:Amnesty International (November 1, 2017).
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494:TomLantosHumanRights (December 4, 2018).
468:TomLantosHumanRights (December 4, 2018).
553:"Rwanda: Free Speech Convictions Upheld"
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159:Lewis Mudge, Central Africa Director of
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127:UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
238:Rwamapera, Kelly (December 28, 2019).
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269:Ssuuna, Ignatius (November 7, 2019).
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439:Barth, Kate (December 4, 2018).
595:Rwandan prisoners and detainees
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156:conducted by the UN in 2021.
125:submitted a petition to the
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585:Rwandan military personnel
137:submitted a report to the
590:Colonels (military rank)
201:Rwanda National Congress
181:Arrest of Frank Rusagara
86:2014 Arrest and Sentence
154:Universal Period Review
111:Rwandan Patriotic Front
186:Human rights in Rwanda
117:International Response
16:Former Rwandan colonel
135:Amnesty International
63:Rwanda Defense Force
395:. February 19, 2018
57:(1967) is a former
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557:Human Rights Watch
342:Human Rights Watch
161:Human Rights Watch
133:In November 2017,
196:Rwandan Civil War
169:Johnston Busingye
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600:1967 births
531:Freedom Now
448:Freedom Now
368:Freedom Now
206:Paul Kagame
123:Freedom Now
76:Paul Kagame
37:Nationality
579:Categories
212:References
70:Background
93:Tanzanian
563:July 20,
537:July 20,
505:July 20,
479:July 20,
453:July 20,
424:July 20,
399:July 20,
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175:See also
95:trucks.
500:Youtube
474:Youtube
61:of the
59:Colonel
40:Rwandan
527:(PDF)
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565:2021
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32:1967
29:Born
91:on
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