This Tuesday a small and familiar group of EU Members of Parliament gathered within the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, to stage yet another political spectacle meddling in the internal affairs of Rwanda. The outcome of the gathering was a resolution calling on the so-called international community “to pressure Rwanda into releasing Victoire Ingabire.”
What these MPs conveniently forgot is a basic and non-negotiable fact: Rwanda is not a colony of Europe, and its justice system does not answer to the European Parliament.
The gathering was convened by four EU MPs well known for their long-standing anti-Rwanda posture. Their arguments relied heavily on statements from Human Rights Watch’s Central Africa director, Lewis Mudge, who is also known as a corrupt human right masquerador, as well as “IVU”’s own son Rémy Amahirwa.
Unsurprisingly, their interventions were emotional, selective, and detached from Rwanda’s legal realities.
No evidence was presented, only sentiment, ideology, and political hostility toward the Rwandan state.
The claim that Ingabire Victoire is imprisoned because she is a “prominent opposition politician” is simply false. She is facing serious criminal charges under Rwandan law, including:
Formation of a criminal group, Plotting to commit crimes, Resisting lawful authority, Spreading false information and propaganda aimed at tarnishing Rwanda’s image abroad
And publishing false information
These are not political opinions; they are criminal allegations, some of which were raised by individuals within her own network. Like in any sovereign country, such matters are adjudicated by courts, not foreign parliaments.
For years, Ingabire Victoire has been elevated and protected by certain European politicians, self-styled “researchers,” and international NGOs particularly Human Rights Watch many of whom have little understanding of Rwanda’s post-genocide realities. Her close relationships with Western diplomats have fostered the illusion that Rwanda’s justice system can be intimidated through international lobbying.
It cannot.
Bringing Ingabire’s son into the parliamentary debate was a calculated attempt to generate sympathy and media attention. While emotionally charged, such tactics have no legal weight. Criminal cases are not settled through diplomatic pressure or parliamentary resolutions; they are resolved in courts of law.
Ingabire’s son must understand that his mother’s case cannot be smuggled into international diplomacy. Rwanda’s judiciary works just fine, plus no one would meddle into the affairs of the Europeans.
One must ask: where was this “international pressure” when Ingabire Victoire Umuhoza publicly denied the genocide against the Tutsi? Where was it when her mother, Therese Dusabe, who was found liable for crimes of genocide and other crimes against humanity found refuge and freedom in Europe?
Rwanda is a sovereign nation (if anyone needs reminding) with functioning institutions and an independent judiciary.
But to those with colonial hungover mindsets, this is just too difficult to accept. Too bad for them then!
ellenkampire