Mr Rugambage, the acting Editor-in-chief of the Umuvugizi weekly newspaper, was shot and killed on 24 June in an attack that appears to be directly related to his work. On the morning of his death, he had published an article alleging that Rwandan security officials were involved in the attempted murder of a former Rwandan General, Kayumba Nyamwasa, in South Africa. Mr Rugambage had expressed concern to a friend of being followed by armed men the day before his death.

The situation has been steadily worsening for journalists and the independent press in Rwanda ahead of presidential elections that are due to take place in August 2010. Umuvugizi was suspended in April, along with another weekly title, Umuseso. Journalists have been placed under surveillance, while a reporter for Umuvugizi was attacked after interviewing an opposition leader.

In a letter to President Paul Kigame, WAN-IFRA urged the Rwandan leader to instigate a thorough investigation into Mr Rugambage’s murder, and called on him to ensure a safe environment “in which journalists are able to carry out their professional duties without fear of violence.”

The full letter reads:

“We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, to express our serious concern about the murder of editor Jean Leonard Rugambage.

“According to reports, Mr Rugambage, the acting editor of the Umuvugizi newspaper, was shot outside his home on 24 June and died later in hospital. Mr Rugambage recently published an article on the Umuvugizi website alleging that a Rwandan official was involved in the attempted murder of former General Kayumba Nyamwasa in South Africa.

“We are seriously concerned that his death may be related to publication of this article. Furthermore, we are concerned that the environment for journalists and news publishers is worsening ahead of the presidential elections due to take place in August 2010. This trend can be illustrated by the suspension of Umuvugizi and Umuseso newspapers, journalists being reportedly put under surveillance, and a journalist being attacked after carrying out an interview with an opposition party member. According to reports, Mr Rugambage complained to a friend of being under constant surveillance before his death.

“We respectfully remind you that it is the duty of the state to provide an environment in which journalists are able to carry out their professional duties without fear of violence.

“We respectfully call on you to ensure that the murder of Jean Leonard Rugambage is thoroughly investigated and that those responsible are quickly brought to justice. We urge you to do everything possible to ensure the safety of journalists.”

More WAN-IFRA press freedom protests can be found here.

WAN-IFRA is the global organization for the world’s newspapers and news publishers, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe.

Learn more about WAN-IFRA at www.wan-ifra.org/ or through the WAN-IFRA Magazine

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, WAN-IFRA, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris, France. Tel: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: larry.kilman@wan-ifra.org.