Question 8874 — foreign policy

Summary

Mr. Aurélien Taché questions the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs on the policy he wishes to pursue to respond to the actions of the Rwandan authorities concerning his political opponents. Ms. Victoire Ingabire was sentenced in her own country in 2010 to fifteen years in prison for trying to run in the presidential elections, for wanting to defend her political opinions in front of the population. She was pardoned and released eight years later in 2018. When this woman created a new political party, Development and Liberty for All (Dalfa-Umurinzi), the authorities did not recognize it and prevented her from running in the following elections. Five of the members of this party died or disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Sylvain Sibomana, Alexis Rucubanganya, Hamad Hagenimana, Jean-Claude Ndayishimiye, Alphonse Mutabazi, Marcel Nahimana, Emmanuel Masengesho, are members of the Dalfa-Umurinzi party placed in pre-trial detention since 2018, whose trial did not begin until the end of 2024. Théoneste Nsengimana, a journalist who planned to cover events linked to a public speaking engagement planned by Victoire Ingabire, in 2018 is also detained and tried with members of the party. Two other people, Claudine Uwimana and Josiane Ingabire (no relation to Victoire), are also targeted in this case, Josiane Ingabire being tried in absentia. The prosecution accuses these people of having read a book on nonviolent resistance and of having participated in meetings on the subject. The charges include “dissemination of false information or harmful propaganda with the intention of arousing international opinion hostile to the Rwandan government” and “criminal conspiracy ". The Rwandan authorities accuse these people of having political opinions, of using pseudonyms during their meetings and of wanting to overthrow the government in place. During the trial, the court summoned Victoire Ingabire to appear, then had her arrested and placed in detention on June 19, 2025. Demonstrations and social mobilizations allow the population to express themselves in a non-violent manner. THE Governments have a responsibility to create a safe environment for individuals and groups to exercise their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, expression and association. Paul Kagame was re-elected in 2024 with 99% of the votes. The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) tightly controls the country's political space through a combination of legal restrictions, surveillance and intimidation of opposition figures and voices. independent. Civil society and the media operate under heavy constraints, with no room for criticism of the government or security forces, or any deviation from official narratives about the genocide. Victoire Ingabire's arrest comes as Rwanda faces increased international scrutiny over its military support for the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo, accusations that have led to the suspension of certain Western aid and sanctions from the United States of America and the European Union. France must undoubtedly oppose peaceful resistance to authoritarianism being considered proof of criminal association and incitement to unrest. Democracy dictates that members of the opposition should not be imprisoned or put on trial. The MP would like to know when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will speak out in favor of human rights and in favor of democracy by ceasing to support the impunity of the Paul Kagame regime. He asks that France clearly expresses the demand for the release of Ms. Victoire Ingabire and all political prisoners in Rwanda.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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