Category Archives: Rwanda

Jailed Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabirewas in court on Monday to appeal against her conviction in a case linked to the 1994 genocide after a trial last year that Amnesty International called “flawed”. Ingabire, head of the unregistered FDU-Inkingi party, was imprisoned for eight years in October for conspiring to harm the country through armed force and terror and for seeking to minimise the genocide in which more than 800,000 people died. Ingabire returned to Rwanda in January 2010 from exile in the Netherlands to contest a presidential election that year but was barred from standing after being accused of the crimes linked to genocide denial. President Paul Kagame, who … Continue reading →

Rwandan President Paul Kagame responded to speculation he might seek a third term by telling journalists on Wednesday “I don’t need this job”, but did not clearly rule out the possibility of extending his time in office. A spate of articles in pro-government newspapers have raised the prospect of him staying on – a move that would anger his critics and require a change to the constitution. “I am not the person who needs a third term,” Kagame told a news conference when asked about speculation prompted by the articles. “Just look at me, I don’t need it. I don’t do this job I am doing as a job for … Continue reading →

Rwanda is holding more than 280 troops accused of desertion on an island in Lake Kivu, the army has revealed. Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita told the BBC they were undergoing re-education. An alleged deserter being held on the island had told the BBC the soldiers were transferred there a year ago from a military prison to prevent a planned visit by the Red Cross. Denying the allegations, Gen Nzabamwita said the BBC was welcome to visit the island. The Rwandan army is mainly run by former commanders of the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel group which came to power after the 1994 genocide. Correspondents say the RPF always expected … Continue reading →

Rwanda has accused soldiers from Democratic Republic of Congo of “provocation” after a group crossed the border, leading to clashes along the volatile area. One of the Congolese soldiers was shot dead, while a Rwandan was wounded in the exchange of fire, a Rwandan military spokesman said. A Congolese spokesman said the clash came after the Congolese soldiers crossed the border to buy beer. Rwanda denies backing DR Congo rebels. But some donors have cut aid to Rwanda over UN allegations that it gives weapons and funds to the M23 rebels. Some 500,000 people have fled their homes in eastern DR Congo since April, when the M23 group took up … Continue reading →

Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire has been found guilty at her treason trial and sentenced to eight years in jail. The prosecution had requested a life sentence for the charges of threatening state security. The court also found her guilty of “belittling” Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Ingabire was not in court to hear the verdict as she has been boycotting the trial, saying it is politically motivated. The Unified Democratic Forces leader was arrested in April 2010 and was barred from standing in elections later that year. The BBC’s Prudent Nsengiyumva in the capital, Kigali, says her lawyer, the deputy UDF leader and a number of her supporters were in court. … Continue reading →

Rwanda appears likely to win one of five U.N. Security Council seats up for election on Thursday, despite accusations by a U.N. expert panel that the country’s defence minister is commanding a rebellion in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda is unopposed in its bid for the African seat on the Security Council, which is currently held by South Africa, but it still needs to be approved by two-thirds of the U.N. General Assembly members present to secure a two-year term. U.N. diplomats said it was theoretically possible that Rwanda would fail to secure the necessary votes for election, although they said that was highly unlikely. The confidential U.N. report, … Continue reading →