Aimable Karasira dies in prison on scheduled release day
Updated
Updated · Human Rights Watch · May 8
Aimable Karasira dies in prison on scheduled release day
7 articles · Updated · Human Rights Watch · May 8
Human Rights Watch urged an independent inquiry after authorities said Karasira died on 6 May from an overdose of prescribed medicine at Nyarugenge District Hospital in Kigali.
The academic and government critic had been jailed since 2021, alleged torture and denial of medical care, and was nearing release after serving four years of a five-year term.
His death echoes singer Kizito Mihigo's 2020 death in custody and intensifies scrutiny of Rwanda's treatment of dissenters and its failure to transparently investigate deaths in state custody.
Another government critic has died in a Rwandan prison. Will international partners demand accountability or remain silent?
A critic dies from an 'overdose' just hours before his scheduled release. What truly happened in his final hours?
Aimable Karasira’s Death in Rwandan Custody: Suspicious Timing, Official Narrative, and Calls for Independent Investigation
Overview
Aimable Karasira, a well-known Rwandan government critic, died at Nyarugenge Hospital on May 6, 2026, just hours before he was scheduled to be released from prison. The Rwanda Correctional Service claimed his death was due to an alleged overdose on prescription medication, noting his existing health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health concerns. However, human rights activists quickly raised suspicions because his death coincided with his expected freedom, and his lawyers had long argued he was unfit to stand trial. This timing has fueled widespread calls for an independent investigation into the true cause of his death.