On the case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda

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 and the case of Victoire Ingabire,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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.