Rwanda National Police

Six arrested in Police operations against maritime crimes in Lake Kivu

Marine Police arrested six people in Lake Kivu on Saturday, September 19, suspected to be robbers and poachers.

Marine Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Elias Mwesigye, said that the successful operation followed a "distress call" from poachers, who were attacked by robbers in the waters.

"At about 8pm, marine Police team, while on patrol in Lake Kivu on the side of Kageyo Sector in Rutsiro District, responded to a distress call from poachers, who had been attacked by robbers in the waters.

Suspected robbers had over-powered the poachers, destroyed their boat, their other boat submerged, stole their fishing gears and left them to drown," ACP Mwesigye said.

"In response, Marine Police team pursued and arrested four suspected robbers, rescued the two poachers from drowning, impounded two illicit fishing nets they were using as well as the boat that was being used by the robbers," he added.

The suspected robbers had loaded stones in their boat, which are among the weapons they were using in the night attack.

He identified the suspected robbers as Gad Kazungu, 32, Jean Claude Babonampoze, 32, Abdoul Mazimpaka, 43, and Eric Manizabayo, 35.

The poachers are identified as Bonifance Babonampoze, 33, and Ildephonse Nsigeziragwa, 42.

"Serious criminals (robbers) had targeted moderate offenders (poachers)," ACP Mwesigye observed

In a related operation conducted around Bugarura Island in Boneza Sector, Marine Police also impounded other 11 rolls of illicit fishing nets from poachers.

The CO said the illicit nets were disposed of while poachers were enlightened on legal fishing, biological break and directives as well as safety measures against COVID-19.

Fishing was suspended in August in Lake Kivu for a two-month biological break to allow restocking.

"Lake Kivu is in biological break and worse still, poachers defy the break and use dangerous fishing practices, which greatly affect aquaculture and fish depletion. The use of such fishing gears is dangerous as it kills  even the young fish," ACP Mwesigye said.

The CO warned that operations are continuous around the country, and people who will be caught in those illegal acts will be punished.

The law N°58/2008 of 10/09/2008 determining the organization and management of aquaculture and fishing in Rwanda provides that the right to fishing in public waters is only granted by a competent authority, which issues the fishing license.

Any person, who engages in fishing activities without authorization shall be liable to a fine ranging from Rwf50,000 to Rwf200,000 and an imprisonment of 3 to 6 months or one of them, and dispossession of the equipment used.

Article 11 outlaws use of “poisonous substances aimed at stunning, weakening or killing fish; applying explosives; using electromagnetic procedures or electrocution; flashing water with an aim of capturing fish; fishing where water organisms are reproduced [...]"