Rwandan authorities have arrested prominent opposition figure Victoire Ingabire, detaining her in the capital, Kigali, on charges of inciting public disorder and establishing a criminal organisation, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) announced late Thursday.
Ingabire, who leads the unregistered opposition party DALFA–Umurinzi, was previously imprisoned for six years as part of a 15-year sentence handed down in 2012. Her earlier conviction stemmed from charges including conspiring to form an armed group and downplaying the 1994 genocide. She was granted an early release in 2018 as part of a presidential pardon.
In its statement, the RIB said Ingabire is now accused of “playing a role in creating a criminal organisation and engaging in acts that incite public disorder.” The agency did not specify when formal charges would be presented in court.
Ingabire has long been a contentious figure in Rwandan politics. She returned from exile in the Netherlands in 2010 with the intention of contesting the presidential election, but was barred from running after being accused of genocide denial — a criminal offense under Rwandan law.
Her arrest comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Rwanda’s political environment. While President Paul Kagame has been internationally praised for steering Rwanda’s economic recovery and stability following the 1994 genocide, his administration has faced persistent criticism over alleged human rights violations, suppression of dissent, and its involvement in regional conflicts — particularly in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kagame, who has been in power for over 25 years, was re-elected last year with 99.18% of the vote, according to the country’s electoral commission — a result that drew both domestic praise and international skepticism. The president has consistently denied allegations of authoritarianism or misconduct by his government.
As the case against Ingabire develops, it is expected to draw further international attention to Rwanda’s political climate ahead of future electoral cycles.
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