A team of international lawyers acting for Rwandan Opposition Leader, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza have decried her re-arrest yesterday, 19 June 2025, as baseless and politically motivated. “This re-arrest is simply the latest step in an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation which the Rwandan government has been carrying out against Victoire Ingabire through a variety of means, including the use of the judiciary, since her return to Rwanda in January 2010” said her lawyer, Iain Edwards of 1MCB Chambers in London.
When it became clear in 2010 that Victoire Ingabire was a legitimate opposition voice who enjoyed political support, she was arrested on false charges of being a terrorist and genocide denier. She was then subjected to an unfair trial, which the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights held violated her rights to freedom of expression and a defence. She was kept imprisoned for eight years, until being pardoned by the President of Rwanda in 2018. Although released from prison, her political, civil and human rights continue to be violated by the Rwandan government. She has been unjustifiably prohibited from leaving Rwanda, and remains separated from her children and gravely ill husband in Europe, and was unlawfully blocked from registering as a Presidential candidate in 2024. Her re-arrest is extension of this ongoing campaign against her. “Victoire’s illegal re-arrest last night is another compelling example of the way in which the judiciary in Rwanda is being used as a tool to shut down all legitimate dissenting political voices” said her lawyer, Kate Gibson of Doughty Street Chambers.
The re-arrest was carried out in the context of an ongoing trial in the Rwandan High Court against nine of Victoire Ingabire’s supporters who are accused of plotting to overthrow the Rwandan government and of spreading false information. The charges stem from online sessions and discussions on non-violent resistance held in 2021, and their reading of a book “Blueprint for Revolution” by Serbian activist Srdja Popović.
In June 2024, after the accused had been detained without trial for three years, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) found that their detention resulted from exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly, and participation in public affairs and was therefore illegal. It called on Rwanda to release them immediately and give compensation for the violations of their rights.
Victoire Ingabire had been investigated and interviewed but never charged in relation to these discussions about non-violent resistance. However, on 17 June 2025, the Judges in the High Court trial decided to summon Victoire Ingabire to appear two days later to answer questions deemed relevant to the proceedings. She duly appeared, but following questioning, the Judges instructed the Prosecutor to launch an investigation into her connection to the alleged charges. The same evening, Victoire’s legal team was informed that the police had arrived at her home, and had taken her into custody. This was confirmed by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau on its X account.
“We are gravely concerned by this unlawful and arbitrary re-arrest, and the ongoing pattern of political intimidation of our client Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. There is, again, no lawful basis for her arrest and detention, and we call for her immediate release” said her lawyer Emily Osiemo of Lumumba & Ayieko in Nairobi.
For more details, contact
Iain Edwards: Iain.edwards@1mcb.com
Emiy Osiemo emily@laadvocates.co.ke
Kate Gibson: k.gibson@doughtystreet.co.uk
Philippe Larochelle: plarochelle@larochelleavocats.com
Victoire Ingabire Arrested Again in Rwanda – Opposition Silenced? (DRM News, 06.20.2025)