Regional
Rwanda: Ingabire's lies on political space
Victoire
Ingabire continues to stage lies about political oppression, violation of
rights, freedom of expression and forced disappearances in Rwanda.
But
it is getting harder to keep up the façade of a ‘Rwandan politician’. Like a
child throwing a tantrum, she claims that there is no political space in
Rwanda, because her DALFA Umurinzi ‘political party’ is not legally registered.
She founded the 'party' in 2018, a year after her release from prison.
For
starters, her new 'party', among others such as RDR and FDU-Inkingi, harbours
genocidal agendas. DALFA Umurinzi is a coalition of genocidal movements.
In
2010, Dutch Police officers carried out an official search at Ingabire’s home
in the Netherlands. Many documents showing her collaboration with FDLR commanders
were found. The FDLR is a militia group founded by remnants of the masterminds
of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Ingabire’s
claims do not hold in Rwanda where there are 11 legally registered political
parties. Her 'party' is not registered because it was formed on ethnic divisions
and Rwandans will not stand for such.
On
top of her wishful political parties, Ingabire served eight years on genocide
related crimes. In 2018, she was among more than 2,000 former prison inmates
given a presidential pardon.
Organic
Law n° 10/2013/0L of 11/07/2013,
governing political organizations and politicians prohibits anyone who
was sentenced to an imprisonment equal to or exceeding six months, or committed crimes of Genocide against the
Tutsi, to be in the management of a political organization.
Her
political credentials in Rwanda are null and void.
Rwandans
know their politicians and Ingabire is not one of them.
On
October 11 and 13, Ingabire held discussions with Danish and British Members of
Parliaments, who were in Kigali attending the 145th Assembly of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). According to her, she discussed with the MPs
the social, economic and political situation in Rwanda.
If
there is no political space in Rwanda, how come she is allowed to host foreign
politicians, and discuss Rwanda’s politics? Why are these foreign politicians
giving her the platform to advance her venomous double genocide ideology?
Among
other baseless claims that Ingabire never ceases to advance is what she calls
“lack of freedom of speech” because the people she calls her friends and
supporters are journalists and criminals in jail.
Birds
of the same feathers flock together, they say. Among Ingabire’s proclaimed
friends are journalists like Karasira Aimable, who was charged with Genocide
denial and instigating divisions. Another example is Agnes Uwimana, who was
receiving money from renowned terrorist Paul Rusesabagina. Uwimana struck a
deal with Ingabire to use her YouTube channel to propagate divisionism among
Rwandans.
For
these journalists, Ingabire claims that their rights of freedom of speech are
being suppressed because she was using them as her mouthpieces in conveying her
genocide ideology. In Rwanda no one is above the law, journalists can still be
held accountable for their crimes.
Another
genocide denier and Ingabire’s strong ally in advancing the double genocide
theory is Bernard Ntaganda. In June 2021, the duo published a public statement
of the so-called “roadmap for a promising future of Rwanda”, where they argued
that Rwandan policies in social, economic, and political sectors seem
‘outdated’ and need to be ‘revised’.
But
what promising future can genocide ideologues like Ingabire and Ntaganda who
have been sentenced for genocide related charges represent?
Ingabire
and Ntaganda are effecting the last stage of genocide, which is genocide denial
and revisionism. And the best way to do it and get world attention is to
portray themselves as opposition politicians and human rights activists.
But
for Ingabire, the ‘lack of freedom of speech’ ruse does not hold either. She is
given space in Western media including CNN, BBC, and Aljazeera, where she
continuously publishes her venomous opinions. Western media constantly refers
to her as a ‘political victim’.
Aljazeera,
on September 15, published her opinion: “Rwanda’s consensual democracy needs a
reset,” describing Rwanda’s democracy as repressing and no longer addresses Rwandans
aspirations. On October 3, CNN published yet another of her lies “Inside the
prison where sunlight ceases to exist” where she is strongly opposing the
UK-Rwanda asylum seeker deal.
If
there is no freedom of speech in Rwanda, why are Ingabire and his allies like
Ntaganda, always being hosted on local YouTube channels, publishing baseless
opinions on social media?
Ingabire
is overstepping her clemency. Like everyone who harbors the genocide ideology,
she should be in prison. She is a danger to society, especially the Rwandan
society which is still healing.