A man identified as Jonathan Scott has filed at the United State Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) claiming to be an agent of the Rwanda National Police but Kigali has rejected having any connection with him.
“Rwanda National Police has taken note of a FARA registration filed with the US Department of Justice on 27 December 2023 by an individual named Jonathan Scott, claiming to be foreign agent working with RNP on cyber-security,” Rwanda National Police said in a statement on Saturday.
It added, “Rwanda National Police has no relationship whatsoever with Jonathan Scott, and the individual listed as the point of contact in the registration is not employed by RNP.”
“Appropriate steps are being taken to ensure the withdrawal of this registration, which has no foundation,” reads the statement.
However, Jonathan Scott’s FARA filing was inaccessible by press time.
“Due to potential privacy issues certain FARA documents may not be available online but can be accessed at the FARA public office,” according to a response generated after the search.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was enacted in 1938. FARA requires certain agents of foreign principals who are engaged in political activities or other activities specified under the statute to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities.
Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents.
The FARA Unit of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) in the National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of FARA.
Meanwhile, Scott also went on X and made some tough comments. He said that there will be people who falsify information about him, try to pit the countries he loves against him and attempt to have him arrested by the US government “by calling me a traitor.”
“I will not waiver, and I will not back down. I will always support Rwanda and fight digital terrorism. The US and Rwanda are partners. It is time all Americans recognize this. It is time for Americans to stop referring to Rwanda as a 3rd world country. This is a derogatory term made up in 1952 stop living in the past,” he said.
