Terrorists target government installations in northern Rwanda attack
Terrorists targeted government installations in last Friday’s terror attack that killed 14 people in Musanze District, northern Rwanda, security organs foiled their plan in time, an army official said on Wednesday.
These terrorists did not intend to attack business or property around, but targeted government installations, said Vincent Gatama, Second Division Commander of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) which operates in the northern region, at a meeting brought together hoteliers and tour operators in Musanze district.
Gatama said it was a terror attack.
Last Sunday, the Rwandan police paraded five people who allegedly participated in the attack. They confessed that they belong to a sub group of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan rebel group based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and there were 45 assailants participating in the attack.
The attack happened in the Kinigi sector, which hosts the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park where endangered mountain gorillas live. The meeting convened by Rwanda Development Board was aimed to hear from tourism stakeholders following the attack and reassure the public and tourists.
“There is no remnant in this area and our country at large. There is no any terrorist around remaining in this area,” Gatama said, adding that the army have disabled attackers precisely.
“There is no more enemy element remaining on Rwandan soil,” he said.
He assured that the property, security of people and business in the area are protected, adding that three tiers of security are put in place in the area including a security perimeter at the forefront, in between and in the rear.
Generally tourism activities were not affected by the attack, said Clare Akamanzi, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, at the meeting.
No visitors cancel visits to the famous Volcanoes National Park after the attack, and 627 visited the park to track mountain gorillas or golden monkeys, she said.
Boniface Murwanashyaka, one of the hoteliers at the meeting, said there was no panic at all at his hotel when the attack happened as clients checked in and signed out like any other normal day.
Source: Xinhuanet
