Singer Convicted of Plot to Kill President

A court has sentenced popular singer and composer Kizito Mihigo to ten years for conspiring against the government, including plans to assassinate President Paul Kagame. Mihigo has pleaded guilty to the charges.
Appearing before Rwanda’s High Court on Friday, the 33-year-old musician Kizito Mihigo was also convicted for inciting hatred against the government and plotting to kill other senior officials. Mihigo pleaded for forgiveness during his trial, which may have led which led to a reduced sentence of ten years.
His alleged co-conspirators, radio journalist Cassien Ntamuhanga and former soldier Jean Paul Dukuzumuremyi, are set to spend 25 and 30 years in prison respectively.
Both Mihigo and the journalist Ntamuhanga plotted with the opposition party Rwanda National Congress on social media, according to the prosecution.
“It’s a shame, it’s not justice. This is ridiculous,” Ntamuhanga told reporters as prison guards pulled him from the courtroom. “No matter how long the night is, the sun appears.”
He said he planned to appeal immediately.
The prosecution also claimed that the third alleged conspirator, former soldier Dukuzumuremyi, has received money to carry out grenade attacks in the Rwandan capital Kigali.
The singer Mihigo was also found guilty of “forming a criminal group” and “conspiracy to commit murder” including targeting Rwanda’s president Kagame, and inciting hatred against the government.
Famous for singing the national anthem
During his trial, the musician admitted that he had discussed a peaceful regime change wih the Rwanda National Congress, which is based in South Africa.
Mihigo is a Tutsi survivor of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, committed by members of Hutu majority. Prosecutors said that the popular singer was “in charge of mobilizing the youth” for the exiled opposition party, as well as Rwandan Hutu rebels operating from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, who allegedly include genocide perpetrators in their ranks.
Mihigo is well-known in the country for performing national anthem at official events, including some attended by President Paul Kagame, a former Tutsi guerrilla leader.
President Kagame, who has been in power since 2000, has been praised for bringing economic growth and stability to Rwanda, though he has also been criticized for concentrating too much power in his own hands and cracking down on dissent.
In addition to civil society groups accusing the president and his government of human rights abuses, the Rwanda authorities were also criticized by Reporters Without Borders for the conspiracy trial.

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