What changed

B100395/2025

European Parliament resolution on the case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda

(2025/2861(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Rwanda,Rwanda and the case of Victoire Ingabire,

– having regard to theRules African150(5) Charterand on136(4) Humanof andits Peoples’Rules Rights,of Procedure,

having regard to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance,

A. whereas Victoire Ingabire, political opposition leader and president of the DALFA-Umurinzi party, was arrested on 19 June 2025 in Kigali on charges of forming a criminal group and planning to incite public disorder; whereas she denies these charges, which appear linked to an existing case against fellow party members and journalist Théoneste Nsengimana, who were arrested in 2021 following their participation in a training session on peaceful strategies to resist authoritarianism;

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

B. whereas Ingabire was imprisoned after an unfair trial in 2010, before being pardoned in September 2018; whereas the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) ruled in 2017 that Rwanda violated Ingabire’s freedom of expression and right to a fair trial;

whereas Victoire Ingabire, a Rwandan opposition leader heading the unrecognised DALFA-Umurinzi party, was arrested by Rwandan authorities on 19 June 2025;

C. whereas the actions of the Rwandan authorities against Victoire Ingabire are part of a broader crackdown against political opposition figures; whereas since 2017, five members of Ingabire’s FDU-Inkingi party have died or disappeared; whereas civil society and the media in Rwanda operate under severe threats and restrictions;

whereas Ingebire faces charges of establishing or joining a criminal organisation, conspiring to commit crimes against the government, inciting unrest, resisting lawful authority, organising or participating in unlawful demonstrations, and spreading false information and propaganda intended to discredit the government internationally; whereas the charges against her are widely seen as politically motivated;

1. Strongly condemns the arrest of Victoire Ingabire on 19 June 2025 and expresses serious concern over the pattern of abuse against opposition parties and figures, journalists, civil society actors and dissidents, contrary to Rwanda’s international human rights obligations;

whereas in 2010 Ingabire returned to Rwanda after 16 years of exile in the Netherlands, intending to challenge President Kagame in the presidential election, but was barred from running; whereas she was arrested and prosecuted on charges of “genocide ideology” and terrorism in a trial widely denounced by the international community; whereas she was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, of which she served eight, five in solitary confinement;

2. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Victoire Ingabire and other opposition figures on trial for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights, and demands that politically motivated charges be dropped;

whereas on 24 November 2017 the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that Rwanda violated Ingabire’s rights, specifically her right to freedom of expression and her right to a proper defence; whereas the Rwandan government refused to acknowledge or comply with the decision;

3. Underlines that Ingabire’s ongoing trial is marred by serious irregularities; calls on Rwanda to accredit Ingabire’s selected legal team; urges Rwanda to accept the AfCHPR’s jurisdiction, fully comply with its 2019 order for reparations, and respect international human rights mechanisms;

whereas Ingabire was pardoned by President Kagame in September 2018; whereas she was barred from running for public office and from travelling abroad without permission from the Minister of Justice; whereas her repeated requests to visit her family in the Netherlands have gone unanswered;

4. Urges the Rwandan authorities to end the harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of opposition members, journalists and civil society, to guarantee press and media freedom, and to offer space for political debate and democratic participation, including ensuring free and fair elections; expresses grave concern at the unresolved deaths and enforced disappearances of opposition figures, and demands prompt, independent and transparent investigation following international standards;

whereas Ingabire’s request to expunge her criminal record and allow her to run in the July 2024 presidential election was rejected; whereas official results declared President Kagame the winner with over 99 percent of the vote;

5. Calls on EU and Member States’ delegations in Kigali to visit those arbitrarily detained and to monitor judicial procedures; calls on the EU and Member States to raise the crackdown on political opposition and compliance with human rights in political dialogue at the highest level with the Rwandan Government and ensure that cooperation with Rwanda is consistent with the promotion of human rights and democracy, including fair trial standards;

whereas Ingabire’s arrest follows the earlier arrests of eight activists from her party, and journalist Théoneste Nsengimana, in October and December 2021; whereas they are being prosecuted for their participation in an online training detailing non-violent mobilization techniques;

6. Calls on the Commission to review existing financial and other support, such as the Justice and Accountability Programme, to Rwandan state institutions implicated in arbitrary detention, torture or unfair trials;

Condemns the Rwandan government’s persistent inhumane treatment of Victoire Ingabire; expresses its deep concern at the politically motivated charges and calls for a free and fair trial meeting international standards; in the absence of such a trial, demands Ingabire’s unconditional release and the restoration of her civil and political rights;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the African Union, the UN and the Government and Parliament of Rwanda.

Is concerned at the pattern of abuses against opposition parties, journalists, activists, and other critics of the government; calls on the Rwandan Government to comply with its international human rights obligations;

Reiterates that a functioning opposition, a vibrant civil society and independent media are essential to maintaining the gains achieved in economic and social development in the post-genocide era;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of Rwanda, the VP/HR, the Council, Member States, the African Union, and the United Nations.