A court in Rwanda has rejected efforts by prominent opposition figure Victoire Ingabire to overturn a ban preventing her from running in the upcoming presidential election in July.
Ingabire, who was released from an eight-year prison term in 2018 on charges related to threatening state security and downplaying the severity of the 1994 genocide, sought to challenge the ban imposed on individuals who have served more than six months in jail.
In response to the court’s decision, Ingabire criticized the ruling as politically motivated, stating that it reflects broader issues within Rwanda that have been condemned by human rights organizations and international partners.
Outside the courtroom in Kigali, the 55-year-old politician expressed her disagreement with the judge’s decision, lamenting the lack of avenues for appeal for another two years and highlighting concerns about the country’s adherence to the rule of law.
Ingabire is a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame, who has maintained a stronghold on power for over three decades. Kagame has consistently won presidential elections by overwhelming margins, and recent constitutional changes could potentially extend his tenure for another decade.
Despite facing criticism from rights groups for alleged crackdowns on dissent, Kagame has defended Rwanda’s human rights record, emphasizing the respect for political freedoms within the country.
With Ingabire barred from running, the only challenger to Kagame in the upcoming election is reported to be Frank Habineza of the Green Party, who secured a minimal percentage of votes in the previous election.
Ingabire’s political journey has been marked by controversy, including her arrest upon returning from exile in 2010, subsequent imprisonment, and later founding of the Dalfa-Umurinzi opposition party.
Her advocacy for Hutu representation and questioning of Rwanda’s official genocide memorial, which predominantly honors Tutsi victims, has drawn attention to ethnic tensions and historical narratives within the country.
Source-BBC
