By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
In 1994, while studying business management and economy in the Netherlands, a Rwandan national witnessed the horror of the genocide against the Tutsi unfold in her homeland. Over 100 days, countless lives were lost in one of history’s most brutal episodes of ethnic cleansing. Feeling helpless but driven to act, she founded the political party United Democratic Forces of Rwanda (FDU Inkingi).
Years of activism in the Netherlands culminated in her return to Rwanda in January 2010, aiming to register FDU Inkingi and contest the presidential election against incumbent Paul Kagame. Leaving her husband and three children behind in Amsterdam, she promised her youngest son she’d return for his birthday that year, unaware that this separation would last much longer due to political persecution.
Upon her arrival, she visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Centre, advocating for unity and reconciliation in a speech that also criticized the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) for not being inclusive enough and called for recognition of all victims of violence before, during, and after the genocide. Just three months later, she was arrested and subjected to a politically charged judicial process, including years of solitary confinement, defamation campaigns, and prolonged separation from her family. In 2012, the High Court of Rwanda sentenced her to eight years in prison for "conspiring against the government by use of war and terrorism" and "genocide denial," citing her Gisozi speech as evidence. An appeal to the Supreme Court extended her sentence to 15 years.
Initially placed in solitary confinement in Kigali's maximum security prison, she spent five years in isolation before being transferred to the general prison population in 2016. However, her isolation persisted as prison authorities moved any inmates who interacted with her to distant facilities. This practice only ceased when she pointed out the unintended publicity it generated.
In 2014, while still in solitary confinement, she filed a complaint against the Rwandan government with the African Court on Human and People's Rights (AfCHPR). Although Rwanda withdrew its declaration allowing individual complaints to the AfCHPR just before the court's decision, the court ruled in 2017 that her rights had been violated and ordered the government to compensate her and her family. This order remains unfulfilled.
Released in 2018 under presidential grace, her freedom came with restrictions, she must report to a local prosecutor monthly and seek the justice minister’s permission to leave Rwanda until her sentence formally ends in 2025. Breaching these conditions would revoke her pardon. Post release, she launched the Development And Liberty For All (DALFA Umurinzi) party, aiming to promote the rule of law and sustainable development in Rwanda. However, she faces ongoing obstacles, including being barred from officially registering her party and enduring continuous defamation.
Accused of genocide denial and terrorism without evidence beyond her Hutu heritage and her 2010 speech, she highlights the irony of similar views held by Rwanda's allies, the US and UK, not facing the same accusations. Despite the African Court's findings, the smear campaign against her persists.
The personal toll has been immense. Since her return to Rwanda in 2010, she has not seen her family. Her youngest son, now 19, grew up without her, expressing his pain through music. She missed both her daughter’s and oldest son’s weddings, the latter observed remotely due to travel restrictions. She remains hopeful for a reunion with her family.
Her political journey has been marked by the loss and disappearance of key supporters, raising fears for her own safety. High profile cases include the disappearances and murders of Boniface Twagirimana, Anselme Mutuyimana, Eugene Ndereyimana, Syldio Dusabumuremyi, and Venant Abayisenga. Despite these threats, her commitment to Rwanda remains steadfast, buoyed by the support of her fellow citizens and family.
In 2020, she, alongside opposition figure Bernard Ntaganda, proposed a "roadmap for a promising future of Rwanda," advocating for dialogue, human rights protection, and genuine reconciliation to end political violence and foster stability. Despite the hardships, she refuses to abandon her political mission, driven by a profound love for her country and concern for its future.
Her story exemplifies the widespread political oppression in Rwanda. She believes that without a genuine dialogue with the opposition and civil society, Rwanda faces continued suffering. Her experience underscores the need for systemic change to achieve true democracy and stability in the Great Lakes region. Despite her fears and the ongoing attacks against her, she remains determined to fight for a better future for Rwanda.