NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Dozens of African civil society groups and press associations on Tuesday called for an independent investigation into the death of a Rwanda-based journalist, saying the official statement lacked evidence.
Investigative journalist John Williams Ntwali previously expressed fear for his life, telling human rights organization Human Rights Watch that he had received telephone threats and strangers had visited his home.
His family was informed of his death on January 19, which Rwandan police attributed to a motorcycle accident.
A joint statement by 90 organizations on Tuesday said no evidence of the accident has yet been released.
“The Rwandan authorities have failed to provide a police report, the exact location of the alleged accident, photographic or video evidence, or detailed information about the others involved in the accident,” the statement said.
Ntwali has been described as Rwanda’s last independent journalist to expose alleged human rights abuses against imprisoned opposition figures and journalists.
His recent reporting addressed the plight of people facing land clearances by the authorities.
United States Agency for International Development administrator Samantha Power on Saturday urged the Rwandan government to independently investigate Ntwali’s death.
Rwanda has been accused of violating media freedom in the past.
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