Rwanda National Police

Police has warned against abortion, which is a criminal offence regarded as murder of an innocent unborn child.

 The warning follows an incident on Saturday in Huye District where a woman aborted a five-month feutus that also resulted into her death.

 Supt. Vincent Nduwayezu, the District Police Commander said that the deceased is suspected to have induced herself with traditional herbs, apparently brought to her by the husband.

 She is said to have died out of excessive breeding.

 Supt. Nduwayezu said the husband has since been arrested in connection with aiding abortion that also resulted into death.

 "Investigations are still underway to identify and arrested the person who gave the man traditional herbs that resulted into loss of a life and termination of fetus."

 In Rwanda, abortion is allowed on only four grounds under article 165 of the penal code; when the pregnancy can endanger the life of the mother; when she conceived out of rape; when the unborn child’s father is a family member or relative and the abnormality of the unborn child.

 Article 162 on abortion says that any person who carries out self-induced abortion shall be liable to a jail term of one to three years and a fine of Rwf50, 000 to Rwf200, 000.

 Causing a woman to abort without her consent, under the new law, also attracts an imprisonment term of 10 to 15 years. In case of mutual consent, however, a person who causes a woman to abort shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of two years to five years.

 A person who administers, delivers or orders a substance to a woman and causes abortion which results into death shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of 15 to 20 years if the woman had consented to the abortion; and to life imprisonment and a fine of between Rwf200, 000 to Rwf2 million, if such a woman had not consented to the abortion.