Emmanuel Karenzi Karake

Emmanuel Karenzi Karake
Born (1960-12-23) December 23, 1960
Rwanda
Allegiance Rwanda Republic of Rwanda
Service/branch Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF)
Years of service 1984 – Today
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Chief of Military Intelligence (J2)
Battles/wars Liberation war against Obote regime under National Resistance Army (Ugandan Bush War, Uganda, 1981-1986), War against president Habyarimana regime (Rwandan Civil War, Rwanda, 1990-1994), First Congo War (1996), Second Congo War (1998), Six Day War (Kisangani) (2000)
Awards National Liberation Medal
Foreign Campaign Medal
Presidential Inauguration Medal
Peace Support Operations Medal

Emmanuel Karenzi Karake is a Rwandan Lieutenant-General who is the Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Early years

Karake grew up in Uganda as a refugee from the former Rwandan government. He attended Makerere University, and later joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front where he fought in the 1990-1994 Rwandan Civil War.[1]

Karake attended the Senior Commander and Staff College at the South African Army College and the National Defence College in Kenya. The General holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Uganda's Makerere University, a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi in Kenya and a Master of Business Administration from the University of London.

Senior command

Karake was appointed deputy commander of the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan in August 2007, and in January 2008 became deputy of the UN mission in Darfur. He left this command in April 2009.[2] In February 2008 a Spanish judge indicted Karake, alleging that when he was Rwanda's intelligence chief between 1994 and 1997 he was responsible for a series of political assassinations and massacres. Human Rights Watch claimed that forces under his command had killed civilians in 2000 while fighting Ugandan troops in the Congolese town of Kisangani.[3] The United Nations was embarrassed by the allegations of earlier human rights abuses, and agreed to extend Karake's tenure beyond its expiry in October 2008 only after pressure from the United States and the United Kingdom, and when Rwandan President Paul Kagame threatened to withdraw all Rwandan troops from Darfur if Karake was fired.[2]

In April 2010 President Kagame announced a shake-up of the military command, and a few days later ordered the arrests of Karake, who was accused of immoral conduct, and of former air force chief Charles Muhire, accused of corruption.[4] The men were said to be members of an exclusive circle of top officers in the former Rwandan Patriotic Front.[5] The arrests followed newspaper reports that the two, reported to be popular and powerful figures in the military, had disagreements with Kagame.[6]

2015 Arrest in London

Karake was arrested on 20 June 2015 in London, on an arrest warrant from Spain for war crimes.[7] The Rwandan government responded with Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo calling the arrest an outrage.[7] Karake had a court meeting the day of his arrest and was remanded in custody.[8] On 10 August 2015, Karenzi has been freed by the UK justice, considering that "the relevant laws on the conduct alleged in this case do not cover the acts of non-UK nationals or residents abroad.".[9]

References

  1. ↑ Josh Kron (April 21, 2010). "Rwanda arrests top army generals". Daily Monitor (Uganda). Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  2. 1 2 "General Karake leaving Darfur mission". Rwanda News Agency. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  3. ↑ Thijs Bouwknegt (2 July 2008). "African Presidents Condemn Western Indictments". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  4. ↑ Martin Plaut (20 June 2010). "Division in Rwanda's military ranks". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  5. ↑ "Former UNAMID deputy commander arrested in Rwanda over 'immoral conduct'". Sudan Tribune. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  6. ↑ "Rwanda arrests two high-ranking military officers". BBC News. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  7. 1 2 "Rwandan spy chief Karenzi Karake arrested in London" (in Dutch). BBC News. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Rwandan military general arrested in London in connection with war crimes". The Guardian. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "UK court drops extradition case against Rwandan spy chief". The Guardian. 10 August 2015.
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