By AFP

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Amnesty International warned Friday that two decades of attacks on Rwanda's opposition, journalists and rights groups have created a "climate of fear" ahead of August presidential election.

"Since the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took power 23 years ago, Rwandans have faced huge, and often deadly obstacles to participating in public life and voicing criticism of government policy," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty's regional director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

"The climate in which the upcoming elections take place is the culmination of years of repression."

The rights group released a report detailing several alleged violations, including the killing of an opposition party member as well as harassment and intimidation against those planning to run in the polls.

READ: Rwandan opposition cries foul, cites threats

Critics of the government of President Paul Kagame have been "jailed, physically attacked — even killed — and forced into exile or silence," the  non-governmental organization said.

Although Rwanda is constitutionally a multi-party system, there is practically no opposition within the country.

All recognised parties generally support the policy decisions made by the ruling RPF — with the exception of the small Democratic Green Party which was the only one to object to 2015 constitution changes allowing Kagame re-election.

READ: Kagame warns envoys against meddling in polls

As of June, only four candidates had declared their intention to run against Kagame in the August 4 polls. Kigali's election committee is due to release a final list of candidates on Friday.

"Killings and disappearances in 2017 need to be placed in the context of many years of similar violence for which no one has yet been held to account." said Wanyeki.

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