Rwanda Court Bars Opposition Figure, Victoire Umuhoza From Participating In July Election
Although she regretted the decision of the court which she said had restricted her from participating in the July 2024 legislative and presidential elections in Rwanda, she said the setback would not deter her resolve to continue the struggle for the establishment of genuine democracy in Rwanda and the advocacy for respect for human rights and the rule of law.
A Rwandan political rights activist and President of Development and Liberty for All (DALFA), Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza has expressed dismay over the High Court’s decision not to grant her application for rehabilitation.
Although she regretted the decision of the court which she said had restricted her from participating in the July 2024 legislative and presidential elections in Rwanda, she said the setback would not deter her resolve to continue the struggle for the establishment of genuine democracy in Rwanda and the advocacy for respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Umuhoza was placed under house arrest in April 2010. She was arrested on October 14 2010 and was charged alongside four alleged co-conspirators (Colonel Tharcisse Nditurende, Lieutenant Colonel Noel Habiyaremye, Lieutenant Jean Marie Vianney Karuta and Major Vital Uwumuremyi).
She was accused of “forming an armed group with the aim of destabilising the country, complicity to acts of terrorism, conspiracy against the government by use of war and terrorism, inciting the masses to revolt against the government, genocide ideology and provoking divisionism”.
However, she denied all the charges, saying they were politically motivated.
Ingabire was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison; on appeal to the Supreme Court of Rwanda, her conviction was upheld, and her sentence increased to 15 years.
Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was released from prison under presidential grace in 2018 with certain conditions. Among the conditions, “she must seek authorization from the minister in charge of justice every time she wishes to leave Rwanda.
“Secondly, she must appear before the primary level prosecutor of her place of residence, office once a month. These conditions shall cease to apply at the end of the remaining period of imprisonment, which she was supposed to serve till 2025,” a family source told SaharaReporters.
Regrettably, the source said the activist had applied for permission to leave Rwanda more than two times but the applications were ignored by the Ministry of Justice in Rwanda.
“She then wrote President Paul Kagame requesting that he use his prerogative and remove the two conditions attached to her release order under humanitarian grounds.
“Ms Ingabire Umuhoza wanted to travel to the Netherlands and visit her husband who is severely sick yet the President has not responded to her request yet.
“During the five years that she has been released from prison, Ms Ingabire has not been able to exercise her full rights. She cannot exercise her political rights. She has been enduring all these, despite that in 2017 the African Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) court cleared her and stated that the Rwandan government violated her rights to freedom of expression and denied her adequate defense.
“The Rwandan government has refused to recognise the ruling of ACHPR court to these days, even when the African Bar Association had passed two resolutions calling for Rwanda as a State Party to the African charter on Human and People’s Rights (African Charter) to obey the ACHPR court order on Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza vs Rwandan government case of 2017.
“Last year, Ms Ingabire Umuhoza submitted a legal case to the Rwandan high court to seek rehabilitation, which would have if granted cleared her and allowed her the opportunity to travel to see her family and participate in the forthcoming elections,” the source said.
However, in reaction to the decision of the court rejecting her application in a statement shared on her X account, the activist said that her resolve remained unshaken despite the setback.
“The path towards change is often fraught with obstacles, but it is through perseverance and collective effort that we can aspire to a more just and democratic society,” she said.
She described the decision of the court as a stark reminder of the barriers to political participation and the urgent need for reform in Rwanda’s governance.
Titled: “A Call for Justice and Democracy in Rwanda Today,” Ms Ingabire stated: “In light of the High Court’s decision not to grant me rehabilitation today, I am compelled to share my profound disappointment.
“This verdict arrives at a critical moment, as Rwanda prepares for the legislative and presidential elections scheduled for July 2024, elections in which I hoped to participate as a candidate, advocating for change and democracy.
“The refusal of my rehabilitation is not merely a personal setback but is emblematic of the broader issues facing our nation, issues that human rights organizations and development partners of Rwanda have long criticized. It underscores the prevailing concerns about the independence of the judiciary, the restriction of political rights and the suppression of alternative voices in Rwanda.”
She added, “Today’s decision is a stark reminder of the barriers to political participation and the urgent need for reform in our country’s governance.
“This moment in Rwanda’s history should be marked as a turning point, the court’s decision is a missed opportunity for Rwanda to take meaningful strides toward establishing a genuine democracy. It not only impacts my ability to contribute to Rwanda’s political landscape but also restricts the Rwandan people’s capacity to explore diverse political perspectives.
“Despite today’s setback, my resolve remains unshaken. I am committed to continuing the struggle for the establishment of genuine democracy in Rwanda, advocating for respect for human rights and the rule of law. The path towards change is often fraught with obstacles, but it is through perseverance and collective effort that we can aspire to a more just and democratic society.”
