Victoire Ingabire’s case was sent to court
Victoire Ingabire’s case has been presented to the court by the prosecution, who are asking for her to be detained pending trial.
Ingabire, a former prisoner who was freed on presidential pardon in 2018, is accused of inciting public unrest and organizing a group to plot against the government.
After the Kigali High Court ordered a probe into her alleged involvement in the conspiracy, she was taken into custody on June 19. Ten additional people are charged in a conspiracy trial that is connected to Ingabire’s case.
“Following an investigation by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, which was submitted to the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) on 24 June 2025, the NPPA has filed a case with the Primary Court of Kicukiro, requesting pre-trial detention for Ingabire Umuhoza Victoire,” the prosecution stated in a post on X, on the last day of June.
“She is suspected of committing offences against public security.”
Ingabire was released in September 2018 when President Paul Kagame commuted her 15-year sentence for inciting others, creating an armed group, and minimising the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The leader of the unregistered DALFA-Umurinzi party, who appeared before the High Court on June 19, denied any connection to the purported plot against the government, in which YouTuber Theoneste Nsengimana is accused of organizing a number of people into the conspiracy under the leadership of Sylvain Nsabimana.
Sibomana is seen by prosecutors as a main organizer of a training program purportedly designed to provide participants with the skills necessary to remove the government peacefully.
Sibomana is accused of recruiting individuals for the training sessions in 2021 under the pretense of English language classes. Materials like a leaflet called “Blueprint for Revolution” by Serbian activist Srdja Popovic are allegedly among the things he used.
The book provides tactics for opposing authoritarian governments without resorting to violence. The prosecution claims that the gang also used identities during the sessions and received financial support.
