Senegalese National in Kigali Faces Trial Over Unexplained Rwf100 Million Transfers

KIGALI, July 10, 2026 - A Kicukiro Primary Court has opened proceedings against a Senegalese national residing in Kigali, Bokanga Peter, who is accused of failing to explain the source of more than Rwf100 million transferred through his bank and mobile money accounts. Bokanga, who was arrested three weeks ago by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) following a complaint from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), has been charged with four offenses, including failure to explain the source of assets, forgery of documents, use of forged documents, and fraud. The court ordered that he remain in custody for 30 days as proceedings continue. During a hearing on July 9, 2026, the prosecution argued that there were sufficient grounds to continue holding Bokanga while investigations and legal proceedings move forward. Prosecutors said that between October 2022 and August 2023, large sums of money flowed through his accounts at financial institutions including Equity Bank Rwanda and Ecobank Rwanda, as well as mobile money accounts, without a clear explanation of their origin. According to the prosecution, more than Rwf100 million was deposited into his accounts during that period, including Rwf19 million transferred from Ecobank Senegal to his Rwandan account. Other funds were allegedly moved between mobile money accounts registered in his name before being withdrawn and deposited into his Equity Bank account. Authorities said Bokanga failed to provide supporting documents explaining the source of the funds during questioning by investigators. The defendant told investigators that he operated three businesses in Rwanda - a restaurant, a bar, and a gambling-related establishment - which he claimed generated between Rwf600,000 and Rwf700,000 daily. However, prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to verify those claims. The prosecution also questioned transfers allegedly received from business associates in Senegal, saying Bokanga did not provide proof supporting his explanation. Investigators further alleged that he purchased up to nine vehicles and a motorcycle using the funds before later selling them, describing the transactions as a possible attempt to disguise the origin of the money. On the charges related to forged documents, prosecutors said Bokanga possessed two allegedly fraudulent passports - one from Lesotho and another from the Bahamas - issued under different names and used as identification documents. Authorities from both countries were reportedly contacted. Lesotho officials said the passport was fraudulently issued and was undergoing cancellation procedures, while Bahamas authorities stated that the person to whom the passport appeared to have been issued did not exist in their records. Bokanga denied all charges, arguing that his businesses in Rwanda were legally established and that he had obtained the necessary permits after arriving in the country in 2021. He said each of his businesses operated mobile money accounts through which transactions were recorded, and claimed that he had provided this information to RIB but that it was not considered. Regarding the vehicles, he said they were purchased and resold as part of normal business activities, including for profit and rental purposes. On the passport allegations, Bokanga said he had family links to Lesotho and the Bahamas through his parents. He explained that he attempted to obtain a Lesotho passport but faced difficulties during the COVID-19 period. Regarding the Bahamas passport, he said it was provided by someone who claimed to be his father, and that he later discovered problems with the document. He argued that he was also a victim of fraud because he reported the issue to his bank but continued using the document after no action was taken. His lawyer rejected the allegations, arguing that Bokanga’s income came from legitimate business activities and that the source of the funds could be explained. The defense suggested that authorities may have raised concerns because the businesses were registered under Bokanga’s personal name rather than as corporate entities, making the movement of more than Rwf100 million through one individual’s accounts appear suspicious. The lawyer requested that the court release Bokanga pending trial, citing his family responsibilities in Rwanda and arguing that he posed no risk of fleeing justice. The Kicukiro Primary Court is expected to deliver its decision on whether Bokanga will remain in detention or be granted provisional release on July 16, 2026.