Two Rwandan team members disappear during Commonwealth Games in Australia

KIGALI: Two members of the Rwanda's Commonwealth Games team disappeared during the games held in Australia, the team leader said Thursday on arrival at Kigali International Airport.



Powerlifting coach Jean Paul Nsengiyuma and beach volleyball player Denise Mutatsimpundu disappeared from their teammates on separate days in Australia, said Eugene Nzabaterura of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), who led the team.

Jean Paul Nsengiyumva. PHOTO: KT PRESS

"The trainer disappeared on April 10 while the second one disappeared on April 14 from a restaurant. She pretended she was visiting the washroom and vanished from there," said Nzabaterura. The Rwandan team reported to the police and hope once arrested they will be deported, he said.





The Rwandan team returned to Kigali on Thursday after a fruitless search for medals. A total of 17 people across four different sporting disciplines including cycling, athletics, beach volleyball and para-power-lifting represented Rwanda in Australia, according to the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister had issued a stern warning to eight runaway Commonwealth Games athletes from Cameroon, Uganda, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, giving them a May 15 deadline to leave the country.