Urgent Call for Answers in Case of Abducted Rwandan Human Rights Defender

Lawlor urgently called upon Rwandan authorities to verify Gasana's alleged detention, ensure his safety, and provide his family with concrete information about his situation.

Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, has issued a pressing appeal today demanding clarity and accountability regarding the abduction and enforced disappearance of Yusuf Ahmed Gasana, a Rwandan human rights advocate, from Kenya one year ago.

Gasana was forcefully taken from his residence in Nairobi on 30 May 2023 by unidentified individuals and subsequently disappeared. Despite efforts by his family to seek information from Kenyan authorities, they have received no response. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has raised concerns that state agents may have been involved in Gasana's abduction, a claim highlighted in their report to the Human Rights Council in September 2023.

Mary Lawlor expressed deep concern over the involvement of Kenyan state agents in Gasana's disappearance, emphasizing the urgent need for the Kenyan government to conduct a thorough investigation and disclose his current status and whereabouts.

Gasana, known for his advocacy within a Nairobi-based refugee organization, has been vocal against the involuntary repatriation of Rwandan refugees, which may have placed him at odds with authorities. Recent unofficial reports suggest that Gasana might be held in a clandestine detention facility in Rwanda along with others, without formal charges.

Lawlor urgently called upon Rwandan authorities to verify Gasana's alleged detention, ensure his safety, and provide his family with concrete information about his situation.

Both Kenya and Rwanda are signatories to international agreements, including the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which obligate them to investigate cases of enforced disappearance promptly, search for missing persons, and hold accountable those responsible for such actions.

The disappearance of Yusuf Ahmed Gasana underscores broader concerns about the safety of human rights defenders in East Africa and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to safeguard their rights and well-being.