LUSAKA, Zambia
Zambia's government on Tuesday rejected claims President Edgar Lungu had bankrolled a Rwandan rebel leader accused of orchestrating deadly attacks in his country's border regions.
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| Rebel chief, Callixte Nsabimana (Sankara) |
The claims were made by
the rebel chief, Callixte Nsabimana, who is on trial for terrorism and other
charges. He has already admitted to working with other foreign governments
against Rwanda.
During his latest
hearing on Monday, Nsabimana told a Rwandan High court that Lungu had promised
his National Liberation Front (FLN) $1 million to help oust the administration
in Kigali.
He said Lungu had made
a down payment of $150,000 in support of "rebel attacks to remove
President Paul Kagame from power".
In a statement Tuesday
the Zambian presidency said it "would like to categorically refute these
claims".
It stated
"unequivocally that these allegations are false and must be treated with
the contempt they deserve".
"The governments and peoples of Zambia and Rwanda continue to enjoy strong and fraternal relations founded on mutual respect," said the statement from presidential spokesman Isaac Chipambe.
Nsabimana, also known as "Sankara" has in previous hearings named Burundi and Uganda as supporters of the rebel activities against Rwanda.
The former spokesperson of the FLN militia outfit is facing 17 terror-related charges mainly connected to terror attacks the militia carried out on Rwandan territory in 2018 in which people lost lives.
The attacks took place in southwestern Rwanda, especially in areas around Nyungwe National Park.
Among the charges, the rebel commander faces include the formation of an illegal militia group; taking part in terrorist activities, conspiring and sensitizing people towards joining terrorism, killing, kidnapping, denying and undermining the genocide against the Tutsi, among others. - Africa
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