Kagame opponent denied bail

KIGALI: Diane Rwigara, a leading critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame who was arrested on charges including inciting insurrection against the state, has been refused bail.

Her mother and sister were also arrested and all three were accused of tax evasion and forgery as well as for inciting insurrection.

Her mother, Adeline, has also been refused bail but her sister, Diane, was released after charges against her were dropped.

Rwigara was also blocked from challenging Kagame in August’s presidential election.

Soon before her detention, Rwigara accused the government of politically persecuting her for “standing against oppression and speaking my mind”.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a report called “Rwanda Post-Election Political Crackdown”, released at the end of September, accused the Rwandan authorities of arresting, forcibly disappearing, and threatening political opponents since the August 2017 presidential elections.

“The Rwandan government’s crackdown shows that it is unwilling to tolerate criticism or accept a role for opposition parties, and it sends a chilling message to those who would dare challenge the status quo,” said Ida Sawyer, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“With each arrest in Rwanda, fewer and fewer people will dare to speak out against state policy or abuse.”