Rwanda has been called Africa’s post-conflict success story. More than two decades after a genocide that resulted in the deaths of at least 800,000 people, the country is seen as an example of economic growth and development.
But in recent years, Rwanda has also come under fire from human rights groups and other governments for alleged extrajudicial killings and crackdowns on the press. And with President Paul Kagame’s decision last year to back a constitutional amendment that would allow him to run for a third term, some say the country has turned into an authoritarian state.
In this week’s Headliner, Mehdi Hasan challenges Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, who denies allegations of human rights abuses.
“Let me put it this way, Rwanda, as any other country that I know of, has its own way of doing things,” Mushikiwabo says.
The foreign minister also comments on the alleged 2014 murder of an exiled Rwandan intelligence officer in South Africa. Mushikiwabo asserts that the officer threatened Rwanda.
“Why should I be unhappy about my enemies and people who threaten… ,” she adds.