Rwandan general assassination trial put off till October

The trial of six men accused of plotting to assassinate Faustin Nyamwasa, a former Rwandan army general and ambassador sheltered in South Africa, has been postponed until October.

Didier Samson/RFI

The magistrate’s court in Johannesburg heard the tearful testimony of the state chief witness that knowing about the attack endangered him and his family.

Rwandan national Kaliza Mubarak described how he feared for the lives of his family after last year’s failed bid to kill General Faustin Nyamwasa.

Mubarak told the court that he believed the hit had been organised by his friend Amani Uriwani, who is in the dock with two compatriots and three Tanzanians.

Mubarak is now in a witness protection programme.

He testified that Uriwani told him about his involvement in a plan by Rwandan soldiers to shoot a military person.

After the attack on Nyamwasa, Uriwani asked him not to tell anyone.

Mubarak said he feared he might be killed to silence him.

He wept in the witness stand as he told how he feared for the safety of his pregnant wife

After a number of delays, the trial that started last week was adjourned. The first space that could be found on the court roll was 24 October.

Nyamwasa, a former key ally of Rwandan president Paul Kagame, was shot and wounded in Johannesburg in June of last year.

He had abandoned his post as ambassador to India and fled to South Africa in February 2010 amid accusations of corruption.