Rwanda Human Rights Watch has documented several cases of Rwandans killed abroad who had been threatened by individuals who were part of or close to the Rwandan government. The context of broader persecution of perceived critics or opponents of the government inside Rwanda provides credibility to the allegation that these attacks were politically motivated. It also raises serious concerns about the possibility of official state tolerance, acquiescence, or collusion in these attacks. In some cases, government officials, including President Paul Kagame, seemed to gloat over the killings. In January 2014, Patrick Karegeya, a former In an October 2023 report, “Join us or Die”, Rwandan government official living in exile Human Rights Watch found that Rwandan in South Africa, was killed. During an authorities and their proxies are using inquiry into Karegeya’s death, South violence, judicial mechanisms, and Africa’s special investigative unit said it intimidation to try to silence criticism from was “directly linked to the involvement of Rwandans living around the world. The report the Rwandan government” and South documents a range of methods of transnational Africa’s National Prosecution Authority repression used by the Rwandan government, issued arrest warrants for two Rwandans. including killings, enforced disappearances, surveillance, and abuses against relatives. Seif Bampokiri, a leader of Rwanda‘s These tactics, when used together, form a opposition party, was shot dead in South global playbook of repression and abuse that Africa in February 2021. Those close to aims to muzzle dissenting voices and scare off him said his outspoken criticism of the potential critics. As a result, Rwandans living Rwandan government had made him the abroad practice self-censorship, refrain from target for regular threats. political activism, and live in fear of traveling, being attacked, or seeing their relatives in In September 2021, Révocat Rwanda targeted. Karemangingo, a former lieutenant in the Rwandan army who had refugee status in Mozambique, was in the town of Matola, Mozambique. Karemangingo was described as a central figure in the Rwandan refugee community. A person close to him said Karemangingo had received a warning from the Mozambican intelligence services that he was at risk of attack by the Rwandan government. The 5 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | FEBRUARY 2024