Rwanda: Spate of Enforced Disappearances
Nairobi 16 May 2014
An increasing number of people have been forcibly disappeared or have been reported missing in Rwanda since March 2014. Many of the cases occurred in Rubavu district, in Western Province. “Enforced disappearances are a heinous crime, not least because of the anguish and suffering they cause to family and friends,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Rwandan police and judicial authorities have strict and absolute obligations to thoroughly investigate any case of enforced disappearance.”
Rwanda Recruits Assassins
6 May 2014
An international inquiry has uncovered explosive testimonies from those who say they were recruited for assassinations. Their evidence is the strongest yet to support what human rights groups and Rwandan exiles have suspected for years about the Rwandan government's involvement in attacks or planned attacks on dissidents, not only in South Africa but in Britain, Sweden, Belgium, Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique.
Wave of Intimidation of Rwandan Media
Kigali 28 April 2014
Reporters Without Borders is worried by the deteriorating environment for the media in Rwanda in recent weeks. In the past few weeks, a journalist has been arrested, at least two others have fled abroad, and a news website has been hacked. While apparently not linked, these events have helped to fuel a climate of fear and self-censorship among media personnel.
UN Special Rapporteur gives grim Rwanda assessment, says no political space, no freedom of assembly
Kigali 27 January 2014
"Indeed it appears that every dissenting political leader who rejects this consensus approach gets into legal trouble, with negations of the genocide, divisionism, sectarianism, and even spreading rumors being the favoured charges. In other cases, corruption charges for those who leave the RPF are preferred. And in all such cases, these politicians are accused of violence or having links with violent groups. This sends a chilling and unacceptable message that peaceful public disagreement with the Government is equivalent to criminality. The legitimate combat against terrorism, and other security considerations, should not be used as a bogeyman to restrict the right to freely associate", Maina Kiai.
Obama's speech at Mandela memorial service: did Kagame learn any lesson?
12 December 2013
And so we, too, must act on behalf of justice. We, too, must act on behalf of peace. There are too many people who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people.
Uganda/Rwanda: Forcible Return Raises Grave Concerns
Nairobi 4 November 2013
A Rwandan refugee was forcibly returned by Ugandan police to Rwanda after going missing on October 25, 2013. “The Ugandan police have utterly failed to protect this refugee, who was clearly at serious risk,” said Daniel Bekele, HRW Africa director. “It’s unconscionable that they handed him over summarily to the police force of the country whose persecution he fled.”
Arms Embargo on Rwanda is of Paramount Necessity,
C. Kambanda
1 September 2013
A general and complete UNSC arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Rwanda is the ideal remedy to save millions of innocent civilians in Rwanda, DRC and Rwandan’s neighboring countries. A mandatory arms embargo on Rwanda is the only viable alternative to coerce Rwanda to change its behavior in the interest of international peace, security and deter General Paul Kagame’s acts of aggression on Congo.
Rwandan soldier wins case against unlawful detention
Nairobi 2 December 2011
_The East African Court of Justice Friday (2 December) faulted Rwanda for violating
the rights of its citizen, Lieutenant-Colonel Rugigana Ngabo, a brother
to the exiled General Faustin Nyamwasa, who was jailed in absentia for
24 years. Judges at the East African Court in Arusha, Tanzania, declared
that the detention of Lt.-Col Ngabo was in breach of fundamental and
operational principles of the East African Community (EAC).
Commonwealth: Rwanda at risk of becoming another Zimbabwe
Perth 26 October 2011
Australia and other Commonwealth Governments naively believed admission to the Commonwealth would support Rwanda's path to democracy, but human rights abuses have continued and worsened, President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Frank Habineza, and Australian Greens Leader, Bob Brown, warned today. "The Commonwealth should take action or risk Rwanda becoming another Zimbabwe. Without swift action, the calls will become louder to suspend the Commonwealth's newest member," Senator Brown said.
Rwanda opposition to stage anti-Kagame protests in Perth, Australia
19 October 2011
Some of Rwandan communities living in Australia who are believed to be mobilised by Rwanda National Congress will put up peaceful protest against Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s visit to Australia on October 28 in Perth.
Commonwealth urged to take action In Rwanda
17 October 2011
International democracy prize winner is pleading with Commonwealth leaders to use their Perth meeting to stop killing and imprisonment of the government's political opponents. Mr Habineza, the president of the Rwandan Greens Party, who fled to Sweden last year after his party deputy was decapitated and other political leaders were jailed, wants the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to help bring "democracy and the rule of law" to his homeland.
UNHCR urged to review decision to withdraw refugee status from Rwandan refugees.
11 october 2011
Reporters Without Borders fails to understand a decision by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to urge countries that have given asylum to Rwandan refugees to withdraw their refugee status by the middle of next year on the grounds that political life in Rwanda is back to normal.
ICTR acquitted's visa case goes to the highest French jurisdiction
Paris 4 october 2011
The French Interior Ministry has brought before the Council of State, France's highest administrative jurisdiction, an ongoing battle over whether Gratien Kabiligi, a former Rwandan general acquitted by the ICTR in 2008, should be granted a visa to live in France. The case underlines an ongoing headache for the ICTR and an ongoing political football among UN member states over what to do with ICTR acquitted persons. The Ministry is asking the Council of State to cancel an August 23 order by the administrative tribunal of Nantes (western France) to reexamine "within fifteen days" its decision refusing Kabiligi a visa for the second time.
Rwanda Should End Political Harassment: US Ambassador Rice
Kigali 24 Novemeber 2011
_Rwanda should end harrasment of opposition supporters to allow greater political openness for the country to develop, the US envoy to the United Nations Susan Rice said on an official visit Wednesday. "Civil society activists, journalists, and political opponents of the government often fear organizing peacefully and speaking out," Rice said in a speech in the Rwandan capital. "Some have been harassed. Some have been intimidated by late-night callers. Some have simply disappeared."
Stop intimidating Human Regional Rights Groups, HRW tells Rwanda
New York 23 August 2011
The Rwandan authorities should immediately stop intimidating human rights defenders and allow them to work freely, Human Rights Watch said today. Two leading members of a regional human rights organization were unlawfully detained on August 19, 2011, prevented from traveling, questioned, and harassed, Human Rights Watch said.
Call to stop Rwandan aid over death threats to exiles
London 2 August 2011
The UK should withdraw aid from Rwanda if its government is threatening opponents living here, says the former Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells. He argues these death threats are the latest in a series of events that raise a question mark over Britain's continued support: "If there's any hint at all that these people are threatening people whether they're British citizens or residents, then we must say to them 'I'm sorry this aid is going to be cut off immediately', and that's a threat they certainly could not afford to ignore."
Dictator Kagame challenged in Chicago
13 June 2011
Neither the Governor Quinn of Illinois nor Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, former Obama chief of Staff wanted to get their hands dirty. Not one sitting Senator nor Congressman was willing to risk the bad press by hanging around with Rwanda dictator. Indeed, all Kagame’s organizing machine could manage to make the sham event “respectable” was a washed-up opportunistic politician by the name Jesse Jackson. One wonders how much they paid good old Jesse to appear.
Amnesty International 2011 report on Rwanda
14 May 2011
The authorities restricted freedom of expression and association before presidential elections in August. Media outlets that criticized the government were closed down and editors fled Rwanda. Human rights defenders faced intimidation. Investigations into killings were inadequate. High-ranking military officers were detained without trial. Some improvements in the justice system were offset by laws criminalizing dissent. No country extradited genocide suspects to Rwanda.
Rwanda told to stop harassing dissidents in UK
London 29 April 2011
MI5 (British Security Services) has warned the Rwandan high commissioner to Britain to halt an alleged campaign of harassment against suspected critics of his country's government based in the UK. Ernest Rwamucyo was told by the Security Service that the UK's £83m aid to Rwanda could be cut unless the secret activities against members of the diaspora were halted. Expatriates claim that they have been threatened and intimidated by diplomatic officials.
Liberation Wave: Rwanda cannot be left behind
25 February 2011
The rule of law has been well replaced by Kagame’s instructions; anyone
who dares to question his decisions will face the wrath of compromised
judges, prosecutors, Police and the known and unknown intelligence and
national security apparatus serving Kagame.
Amnesty International condemns imprisonment of Rwandan journalists
5 February 2011
Amnesty International has condemned the imprisonment of two Rwandan journalists who criticized president Paul Kagame ahead of last year’s elections.
“Today’s verdict marks yet another blow to freedom of expression and opinion in Rwanda”, said Amnesty International’s Africa Programme Director, Erwin van der Borght.
“Today’s verdict marks yet another blow to freedom of expression and opinion in Rwanda”, said Amnesty International’s Africa Programme Director, Erwin van der Borght.
Rwandan female journalists of Umurabyo newspaper sent to jail
4 February 2011
Two Rwandan journalists with the Umurabyo
newspaper have been sentenced to long jail terms after being found
guilty of stirring up ethnic divisions.
Editor Agnes Nkusi was sentenced to 17 years, while reporter
Saidath Mukakibibi was imprisoned for seven.
Prof Erlinder on Tour: Documents Prove US Complicity in Rwanda Genocide and Congo Wars
25 January 2011
Erlinder is set to begin a speaking tour to present his 70-page compilation of original UN documents and evidence, as well as his analysis of what actually happened in Rwanda between 1993 and 1995. Erlinder says that the U.S., its allies, and the Rwandan government are collaborators in an ongoing coverup of the truth at the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.
Prosecutor requests 33 and 12 years in prison for two women journalists
Kigali 6 january 2011
Reporters Without Borders is extremely shocked by the long jail sentences that a prosecutor requested yesterday for two newspaper journalists who, after six months in pre-trial detention, are being tried before a Kigali high court on a range of charges including genocide denial and inciting public disorder.
Kagame wants Erlinder in Rwanda "dead or alive"
26 November 2010
According to high-level Rwandan officials present at a meeting in Kigali in mid-October, President Kagame ordered that Minnesota’s William Mitchell Law Professor Peter Erlinder be brought back to Rwanda “dead or alive.”
Help to free Ingabire and all political prisoners in Rwanda, US and UN are urged
Washington 12 November 2010
"We therefore urge the United States Government to link future aid to Rwandan government on fostering genuine reconciliation, accountability and development for all Rwandans instead of supporting political agenda of the RPF ruling party”, Rwandan Diaspora and Friends of Rwanda ask the UN and the US government.
Rwanda: no room left in politics, only in jail
26 October 2010
When she left the Netherlands in January 2010, Victoire Ingabire was hoping to occupy some room in the political space of her home country Rwanda. Instead she was sent to prison on trumped up charges. Ingabire was allowed neither to register her party, nor her candidacy. Instead, she was accused of disseminating the genocidal ideology. Her lawyer, Peter Erlinder, was caught and jailed for the same crime, but was released later, after pressure coming from the US and all over the world.
Open letter to Madame Victoire Ingabire, the opposoition leader wrongly arrested in Rwanda
22 October 2010
Dear Madam,
Words cannot express the sadness and grief we received with the news of your being taken into Rwanda prisons again on October 14, 2010. Though we all knew that Kagame would mistreat you, we never expected him to degrade you to the level you are in now. We understand you are not allowed any drop of water to bathe, you are handcuffed 24 hours, and you are forced to sit and sleep on the cold police cell floor without anything to cover yourself with.
Words cannot express the sadness and grief we received with the news of your being taken into Rwanda prisons again on October 14, 2010. Though we all knew that Kagame would mistreat you, we never expected him to degrade you to the level you are in now. We understand you are not allowed any drop of water to bathe, you are handcuffed 24 hours, and you are forced to sit and sleep on the cold police cell floor without anything to cover yourself with.
Rwandan opposition calls on President Obama to intervene over harassment
19 october 2010
A leading member of Rwanda’s opposition coalition has called on U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration to put pressure on President Paul Kagame and his government to stop the harassment and intimidation of opponents with dissenting views.
Rwanda: Protect Rights and Safety of Opposition Leaders
New York 15 October 2010
The Rwandan government should fully respect the rights of opposition party members and allow them to carry out their legitimate activities without fear for their safety, Human Rights Watch said today. "The police should grant Ingabire access to visitors and should respect her rights to due process," Peligal said. "If she is to be charged, it should be on the basis of solid evidence, not as a punishment for her criticisms of the government."
ICTR lawyers: No International Justice for Congo
11 October 2010
Human rights activists around the world have called for international justice and an end to impunity in the wake of the UN Mapping Report on Human Rights Abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, Defense lawyers at the ICTR say that there is no reason to expect justice from an international criminal tribunal.
Human Rights Watch seeks justice for victims of genocide in DRC
New York 1 October 2010
"The time has come to identify and prosecute the people responsible for carrying out and ordering these atrocities, going right up the chain of command," Roth said. "Governments around the world remained silent when hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians were being slaughtered in Congo. They have a responsibility now to ensure that justice is done."
Rwanda: Murders, bogus arrests and media closures make for climate of fear in run up to election
London 5 August 2010
Amnesty International today strongly condemned attacks on politicians and journalists in the run up to the presidential elections on this coming Monday, August 9. “No country should be a silent witness to pre-electoral repression. Speaking out about violations is the best way to ensure that the next Rwandan administration respects human rights.”
Rwanda: Attacks on Freedom of Expression, Association, and Assembly in the Run-up to Presidential Election
2 August 2010
The following is a chronology of violations of the right to freedom of expression, association, and assembly in Rwanda, and related events, from January through July 2010, leading up to presidential elections on August 9.
Political Repression in Rwanda: Widespread Arrests of Journalists and Opposition Politicians
27 July 2010
In advance of the upcoming presidential elections, many within the international community have remained supportive of Rwanda’s so-called “democratic transition.” They seem to ignore the widespread arrests of journalists and opposition politicians, the closing of independent Rwandan newspapers, ejection of a Human Rights Watch researcher, an assassination attempt against exiled General Kayumba Nyamasa who had a falling out with President Kagame, and the killing of journalist Jean-Leonard Rugambage.
Rwanda opposition party cries out to Obama and Cameron
London 27 July 2010
"The genocide has been Kagame excuse for establishing and maintaining a military dictatorship in Rwanda. Mr Kagame uses the genocide as a means to emotionally blackmail Rwandans as well as the international community. I say this with sadness, but the US administration under George Bush Jr and the UK administration under Tony Blair became the strongest supporters of Kagame", John Karuranga.
Paris-Kigali new relationship linked to arms trafficking, Amnesty International
London 19 July 2010
According tp Amnesty International, States are failing to adequately control the transport of weapons around the world leading to serious human rights violations."There was a clear and substantial risk that machine gun/anti-aircraft gun parts procured by the Rwandan government might be diverted. Such weapons were used in the fighting taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 220,000 people had been displaced and serious violations of human rights were perpetrated".
Kagame arrests another journalist, UK stops funding the Rwandan Media Council
9 July 2010
Two weeks after the murder of Rwandan journalist Jean Leonard Rugambage, following his criticism of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Rwandan Police arrested Agnes Uwimana, the director of a privately owned newspaper, Umurabyo.
"Allow Independent Autopsy of Opposition Politician", Human Rights Watch asks the Rwandan government
New York 21 July 2010
The government of Rwanda should allow independent foreign experts to carry out an autopsy on the body of André Kagwa Rwisereka, vice president of the opposition Democratic Green Party, says Human Rights Watch. The US-based group says there are discrepancies in the official account of Mr Rwisereka's death.
Great Britain Presses Rwanda Government on Human Rights and free elections
London 6 July 2010
In a tense exchange on Tuesday July 6, 2010, the British House of the Commons has quizzed officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the on-going repression and assassinations in Rwanda. " We have already made our views clear to the Rwandan Government, and we will continue with that dialogue, putting pressure on them. As I said a moment ago, it is essential that there should be not only a free election, but one with proper opposition and open and transparent media reporting it", said Mr Bellingham, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Rwandan refugees in Uganda to be repatriated by force
Kigali 6 July 2010
Over 1,312 Rwandan refugees who fled to Uganda between March and April this year and were denied refugee status, are to be repatriated this month by the Ugandan officials in partnership with the government of Rwanda.
Rwanda 'assassins' kill reporter Jean Leonard Rugambage
Kigali 25 June 2010
A journalist working for a private newspaper has been shot dead in front of his house in the Rwandan capital. Witnesses say Jean Leonard Rugambage, the acting editor of Umuvugizi newspaper, was fired on by two men who then fled in a car.
Rwanda: Stop Attacks on Journalists, Opponents
New York 26 June 2010
Insecurity and political repression are increasing in advance of Rwanda's August 2010 presidential elections, Human Rights Watch warned today. In the last two days, an independent journalist has been killed, the leader of an opposition party has been detained by the police, and other opposition party members have been arrested.
Gov’t slams ICTR lawyers for ties to Genocide fugitives
Kigali 18 May 2010
The government has condemned some defence lawyers at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the several jurists mainly based in Europe, for their continued provision of platforms to indicted Genocide fugitives. The condemnation was triggered by a conference slated for this week in the Belgian capital Brussels, which is expected to feature some Genocide fugitives as key speakers
Rwandan Refugees Fate Due soon
Kampala 13 May 2010
The fate of Rwandan 'refugees' living in Uganda is to be decided today ( 13 May 2010) in a meeting to be held in Mbarara between the governments of Uganda, Rwanda and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Rwandan prisoners and refugees "Will Not Vote" - NEC
Kigali 11 may 2010
Rwandans living outside the country with refugee status and people detained in prisons will not take part in the August 9 Presidential elections, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has revealed.
Kagame and Mugabe Among Violators of Press Freedom
Nairobi 3 May 2010
There are powerful people behind press freedom violations whose responsibility is not always apparent. Whether presidents, ministers, religious leaders or the heads of armed groups, these predators of press freedom have the power to censor, imprison, kidnap, torture and, in the worst cases, murder journalists.
HRW official asked to leave the Rwandan territory, HRW reacts!
New York 23 April 2010
The Rwandan government's decision to deny a work visa to Human Rights Watch's representative in Kigali demonstrates a pattern of increasing restrictions on free expression in Rwanda ahead of August's presidential elections, Human Rights Watch said today.
US Department 2009 Human Rights Report: Rwanda
March 2010
During 2009, citizens' right to change their government was effectively restricted. Violence against genocide survivors and witnesses by unknown assailants resulted in deaths. There were reports of abuse of suspects by security forces and local defense members, and prison and detention center conditions remained generally harsh. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons. Prolonged pretrial detention was a problem. There were restraints on judicial independence and limits on freedoms of speech, press, association, and religion. The government forcibly returned refugees. Official corruption and restrictions on civil society remained a problem.
Rwanda refuses to renew work permit for a Human Rights Watch official
Kigali 10 March 2010
The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, yesterday, cancelled the work permit of Carina Tertsakian, the Country Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) over ‘gross anomalies’ in her documents.
CHRI: Grave Concerns over Rwanda ’s Elections
8 March 2010
The Commonwealth Human Rights initiative (CHRI) is deeply concerned at the continued restrictions and threats to opposition parties in Rwanda. It expressed fears that the absence of these rights is tantamount to breaches of the Commonwealth's fundamental political principles that insist on free and fair elections (Harare Declaration 1991).
“The international community should not shy away from pushing for greater democratic space in Rwanda”. Senator Russ Feingold
6 March 2010
The current Rwandan govenment has been characteised by the total impunity of RPF criminals, the Tutsi economic monopoly, the tutsi militaristic domination, and the brutal suppression of the rights of the majority of the Rwandan people (85% are Hutus), by the RPF criminal organisation.
The Commonwealth Human Rights initiative (CHRI) had warned that Rwanda should not join the Commomwealth
The CHRI report makes it clear that Rwanda does not satisfy the test of Commonwealth values. There are considerable doubts about the commitment of the current regime to human rights and democracy. It has not hesitated to use violence at home or abroad when it has suited it. Consequently, its admission would send the signal, loud and clear, that the commitment of the governments of the Commonwealth countries to its values is shallow.
Rwandan government forced a Canadian citizen into "re-education"
In the midst of my doctoral fieldwork, the Rwandan government ordered me to undergo “re-education”. I was just over halfway finished when the Executive Assistant to the Minister of Local Government (MINALOC) told me that he had to revoke my letter of permission because my research was “against national unity and reconciliation” and “was not the kind of research the government needed”, writes Susan Thomson.
Human Rights Watch Report 2009
Rwanda in 2009 saw increasing government restrictions on political space and individual freedoms, growing intolerance of criticism of state policies, and a refusal to allow any discussion of ethnicity, says HRW in a new report on Rwanda