Victoire Ingabire: Rwandan opposition leader barred from election over past convictions

A court in Rwanda has prevented efforts by famous opposition figure Victoire Ingabire to end a ban on her running in July’s presidential election.

She was set free in 2018 after spending eight years in prison for frightening state security and “belittling” the 1994 genocide. In Rwanda, individuals who have been locked up for more than six months are prohibited from running in elections.

Victoire Ingabire said the court’s ruling was politicized. “The refusal of my rehabilitation is not merely a personal attack but is emblematic of the broader issues facing our nation, issues that human rights organizations and development partners of Rwanda have long criticized,” Ingabire said in a statement put on X.