A politician from Rwanda who spoke out against the UK’s deportation agreement this week is concerned for her well-being after a presidential advisor denounced her for “fighting against her fellow citizens.”
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a columnist for the Guardian, expressed her concerns about how her country handles refugees in her recent article. She has since become worried about the consequences of her criticism, as an aide to Paul Kagame accused her of “slandering Rwanda” in the international media.
Umuhoza, who was imprisoned for eight years following a trial that human rights groups deemed unfair, has reported receiving threats to her safety. Her opinions have been criticized by followers of the government on social media.
She expressed concern about a possible effort to harm her solely because she was given a platform to share her opinions on the UK-Rwanda asylum agreement through international media.
“Two weeks prior, a friend alerted me to a potential danger to my wellbeing. I initially dismissed it as mere gossip. However, yesterday I was informed that there is a plot to cause harm to me circulating.”
“Regardless of the veracity of these assertions, it remains a fact that individuals in Rwanda, including my followers, have been victims of unexplained murders and disappearances.”
Umuhoza, who lives in Kigali, has given interviews to several media organisations after Rishi Sunak announced last week that the UK government would double down on plans to fly refugees to Rwanda.
Following a critical decision by the Supreme Court, which concluded that Rwanda is unable to guarantee the safety of refugees, the prime minister has introduced a new bill stating that Rwanda is a secure nation. This move aims to prevent legal action from impeding the departure of flights.
On Tuesday, Umuhoza expressed heightened worry after reading an article by Joseph Rwagatare, an advisor to Kagame, in a media outlet that supports him. The article stated that she was severely ill and displayed a lack of gratitude.
He stated that she has declared war against her nation and fellow citizens. People with severe mental disorders often believe they are highly intelligent. Ingabire now portrays herself as an advocate for harmony and healing, while criticizing the Rwandan government for its shortcomings in those areas. This viewpoint is only seen in international media, of course.
Rwagatare stated that during Umuhoza’s interview on the BBC’s Hardtalk show on December 7th, she described her country as unclean, impoverished, and lacking safety for both its citizens and foreigners, such as asylum seekers. This aligns with what some in the UK may have wanted to hear, seeking validation of their preconceived notions from a Rwandan politician.
“Despite loudly advocating for the protection of freedoms like freedom of speech, her words fall flat when she freely makes extreme anti-Rwanda remarks on Rwandan soil without facing consequences.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Rwagatare holds a position as an advisor to the president of Rwanda. An article published in the Daily Mail in June 2022 referred to him as Kagame’s education advisor.
Umuhoza has been targeted with social media threats. One in particular, written on X, accused her of committing “sedition” in her Guardian article. The writer also added, “There is perhaps no greater shame than being known as a Rwandan who conspires with colonizers.”
Someone else stated, “You should express gratitude towards Kagame…I would harm you.”
It has been revealed that a total of £290 million will be given to Rwanda from 2022-2024. Two additional payments, which have not yet been specified, will be made in 2025 and 2026.
In 2010, a Hutu named Umuhoza was detained in Rwanda upon returning from exile where he served as the leader of the United Democratic Forces party. Umuhoza was arrested for questioning the lack of recognition for moderate Hutu victims of the 1994 genocide during a memorial event. He faced charges of collaborating with a terrorist group and downplaying the extent of the genocide, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence.
In 2018, she was granted a pardon by Kagame and released. During her eight years in jail, she spent five years in solitary confinement. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations criticized her trial, citing flaws.
Kagame has faced accusations of attempting to eliminate and abduct his political rivals.
Kagame is accused of being responsible for the death of his ex-intelligence chief, Patrick Karegeya, who was killed by strangulation in a hotel room in 2013 while living outside of Rwanda in South Africa.
Rwanda’s former army chief of staff Kayumba Nyamwasa – who also went into exile in South Africa – has survived two assassination attempts blamed on Kagame.
The Rwandan government has been requested to provide a statement.
Source: theguardian.com
