South African police arrest 4 in shooting attempt on exiled Rwandan general

SAfrica arrests 4 in attempt on exiled Rwandan

JOHANNESBURG — Four suspects have been arrested over the shooting in Johannesburg of an exiled Rwandan general who is accused of terrorism in his homeland, South African police said Monday.

Police spokesman Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said the arrests were made in the previous 24 hours and that more arrests were likely. He would not say whether the suspects were Rwandan or discuss possible motives in what he described as a murder attempt.

Lt. General Kayumba Nyamwasa’s wife has accused Rwandan President Paul Kagame of being behind Saturday’s shooting, a charge the Rwandan government denies.

Rosette Nyamwasa said she and her husband were returning from shopping to the upscale gated community where they live in northern Johannesburg when a lone gunman fired on him. She said her husband was shot in the stomach and will recover.

Rwandan officials have accused Nyamwasa, who came to South Africa earlier this year, of trying to destabilize their government. Nyamwasa and Kagame were once allied, but have fallen out, reportedly because Kagame sees his former military chief as a political rival.

The Rwandan government has linked Nyamwasa to three grenade attacks in Rwanda’s capital Feb. 19. The attacks in central Kigali killed one person and injured 30.

South African police said earlier this year they had not arrested Nyamwasa because they do not have an extradition treaty with Rwanda.