Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders – RSF) released the World Press Freedom Index for the year 2022, to coincide with the World Press Freedom celebrated annually on May 3. Rwanda was ranked 136 out of 180 countries, moving 20 places up from 156 in 2021, with a global score of 45.18.

Ironically, when one reads the report on Rwanda, it is puzzling to know how the country was able to move 20 places up, when nothing good in Rwanda media sector development was recorded. Secondly, the methodology used by RSF is highly questionable due to the fact that all countries are not accessed using the same indicators.

More intriguing is how RSF collects data which is neither scientific nor logical. For any credible institution worth the name that carries out research in any given field, it is common practice that the researchers go to the field where research is being carried out. Since October 10, 2001, no staffers of RSF have set foot in Rwanda. So, how does RSF claim to have credible information and data on Rwanda?

The methodology used to collect information from Rwanda is more of a covert operation by RSF that serves a political agenda rather than research work on media freedom. What is known is that RSF sends questionnaires to specific few informers in the country particularly those who have negative views about the government. Can such people be objective?

On media landscape, RSF states that, “beaten down by decades of oppression, the Rwandan media landscape is one of the poorest in Africa. TV channels are controlled by the government or by owners who are members of the ruling party. Most radio stations concentrate on music and sports to avoid problems…”

These claims are nothing but naked lies. One wonders if  being a media owner and belonging to the ruling party is a crime, or whether media in other countries is owned and controlled by the opposition. This reminds me when a European mentioned to me that the interactive programs in Rwanda are conducted in the local language (Kinyarwanda) and therefore foreigners do not understand. When I asked him whether Rwandan media should serve interests of foreigners, or Rwandans, the answer did not come by. We simply shifted to another topic.

It is an open secret that RSF hides behind media freedom to serve a political agenda against Rwanda and the person of President Paul Kagame. One RSF report  says that,  “Paul Kagame’s reelection for a fifth term in August 2017 reinforced the regime’s authoritarianism and censorship. Media owners must pledge allegiance to the government, and many journalists have been forced to attend a patriotism programme or become members of the ruling party. The authorities can intervene directly to fire those who resist.”

Again RSF makes unfounded wild claims that have no truth whatsoever. However, the bad feeling about the re-election of President Kagame in 2017, reflects a Western agenda which RSF serves, that has tried for years in vain, to see regime change in Rwanda. Rwandans still want Kagame as their President because he has done miracles to raise Rwanda from the ashes.

The patriotism programme mentioned refers to Itorero (civic education) which is not attended by journalists only but all Rwandans from various sectors and it is voluntary. But even if it was mandatory, there would be no crime.  National Services are mandatory in many Western countries yet RSF does not point fingures.  Why would a similar programme be an issue when done in Rwanda?

It is a shameful lie to say that the ruling party RPF recruits members forcefully. Belonging to the ruling party that liberate the country and stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a privilege.  

On the safety of journalists, RSF conveniently brings out cases of 1996 (24 years ago) yet, the media freedom index in question would be focused on what happened in the year 2021.

This is specifically done on Rwanda alone, which shows RSF’s double standards, and bias.

What is more disturbing is the assertion that President Kagame exploits the collective memory of the role of media in the Genocide against the Tutsi to crack down on media.

“To justify his control over the media since taking power, Paul Kagame exploits Rwanda’s collective memory of the 1994 genocide, an era when the media stirred up racial hatred,” RSF shamelessly says.

This is not only an insult to the person of President Kagame who stopped the genocide,  but also an act of opening  wounds of Genocide that are still fresh in the hearts of the  Rwandan society and dancing on the graves of more than one million victims.  It is insensitive and inhuman.

Can RSF say the same thing about the holocaust?

No wonder that in 2001, RSF advocated for the release of journalists who were in prison on genocide related offenses disregarding the gravity of their charges.

What RSF knows and conveniently decides to sweep under the carpet, is that Rwanda is one of the countries in Africa that carries out comprehensive research every two years and publishes Rwanda media barometer (RMB) that gauges the state of media development in the country. The RMB uses internationally accepted indicators and makes recommendations aimed at improving the media sector including media freedom and safety of journalists. The findings are made public and RSF can find them on the website of Rwanda Governance Board which conducts the research.

The media freedom ranking by RSF on Rwanda is therefore flawed and political in nature.

In recent years, RSF has not officially contacted any institution in Rwanda that deals with media development. If RSF could present findings that challenge RMB indicators, this would be a welcome approach that can help the two sides to engage. 

 

Here are a few of Rwanda Media Barometer findings for the year 2021 that give a picture of the state of media in Rwanda, different from the RSF  publication. Media Freedom stands at 93.7 per cent.

Journalists right to protect their sources scored 93.3%, freedom of expression 86.4%, access to information 77.8%, and promotion of diversity of media 88.2%. There are critical areas as well that still need to improve like journalists compliance with professional standards which rates at 57.3%, and a few others.

The media industry in Rwanda is growing and facing challenges like any other countries especially on profitability due to the digital age disruption.

Hate speech online or through social media is on the increase and Rwanda knows better that tolerance of hate media led to genocide against the Tutsi. RSF can say what they want, but the fact is that majority Rwandans rate their President and the media performance with the highest ranking.