Rwandan authorities have arrested prominent opposition figure Victoire Ingabire on allegations of inciting public unrest and forming a criminal organization, according to a statement from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
Ingabire, who leads the unregistered opposition party DALFA–Umurinzi, has long been a vocal critic of the government. She previously returned from exile in 2010 to run in the presidential election but was disqualified over accusations of genocide denial.
In 2012, she was sentenced to prison on charges of attempting to form an armed group and downplaying the 1994 genocide—allegations she denied. She was released in 2018 under a presidential pardon.
Now, the RIB accuses her of participating in the formation of a criminal organization and engaging in actions that incite disorder. The bureau’s statement, released Thursday evening, did not specify when she would be formally charged.
Iain Edwards, one of Ingabire’s international legal representatives, denounced the arrest as politically driven.
“This is yet another step in a long-standing campaign of intimidation and harassment aimed at Victoire and her supporters,” he told Reuters.
“The goal is to silence her and deter others from speaking out against the government. There’s a real fear for the safety of political opponents in Rwanda, and I am deeply concerned for her life,” he added.
The Rwandan government has not issued an official response. Attempts to reach government spokesperson Yolande Makolo for comment were unsuccessful.
President Paul Kagame, who has ruled Rwanda for over 25 years, was re-elected last year with a reported 99.18% of the vote. While international observers have credited him with stabilizing and modernizing Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, human rights organizations frequently criticize his administration for suppressing dissent and backing rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo—allegations the government strongly denies.
