Freedom of Association
On 12 May 2017, the body of Jean Damascene Habarugira, a member of the United Democratic Forces party (FDU-Inkingi), was found 60 kilometres from where he had disappeared three days earlier.[1] According to the FDU-Inkingi, Habarugira was assassinated because of his opposition to the government’s agricultural planning policy in his home area of Ngoma, in the east of the country.[2]
On 27 June 2017, the National Election Council announced that three independent presidential candidates, Diane Shima Rwigara, Fred Barafinda Sekikubo, and Gilbert Mwenedata, failed to garner 600 signatures (with a minimum of 12 from each of the 30 districts in Rwanda), disqualifying them from running in the presidential election.[3]
Other candidates reported harassment during their campaigns. Frank Habineza of Rwanda’s Green party was verbally harassed with phone calls mocking his attempt to run against Kagame.[4] Independent candidate and former journalist, Phillipe Mpayimana, alleged that several lists of signatures he had collected were stolen in Rusizi and Kamonyi districts.[5]
Rwigara alleged that local leaders targeted her supporters with intimidation and threats while collecting signatures. She also told reporters that up to 10 of her representatives had been arrested and threatened with “treason charges” but later released with no charge.[6] On 31 August 2017, Rwigara and some of her family members were reported missing, after police indicated that she was being investigated for alleged forgery and tax evasion. Although the police first denied having taken them into custody, the police confirmed on 4 September that Rwigara, her mother and sister were arrested on tax evasion charges, and that Rwigara was facing additional charges of forgery of signatures in the supporting documents she submitted in order to run as a presidential candidate. The trio was again arrested on 22 September, and Rwigara now faces more serious charges that include treason, inciting revolt, and revealing sensitive information.[7] All three have been denied bail while the trial is ongoing.
Several members of unregistered opposition parties and other political opponents have been threatened, arrested, or forcibly disappeared since August 2017.[8] Seven members of the FDU Inkingi including Vice-President Boniface Twagirimana and others leaders of the party like Leonille Gasengayire, Fabien Twagirayezu, Nsabiyaremye Gratien, and Theophile Ntirutwa were arrested on 6 September. Jean Marie Vianney Kayumba Vice-Chairman of PDP-Imamzi was also arrested on the same day.[9]
Freedom of Expression
In May 2017, the National Electoral Commission introduced a mandatory vetting process for social media messages posted by candidates in the presidential election that would require all candidates to seek prior approval before posting messages online. On 31 May, however, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority dismissed the process after receiving widespread criticism from within the country as well as from the US, UK and the EU. [10]
[1] Amnesty International, “Setting the Scene for Elections: Two Decades of Silencing Dissent in Rwanda,” 7 July 2017,https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr47/6585/2017/en/, Accessed 28 September 2017.
[2] FDU-Inkingi, “Rwanda: Assassination of Mr. Damascène Habarugira, Member of the FDU-Inkingi,” 11 May 2017, http://www.fdu-rwanda.com/en/english-rwanda-assassination-mr-damascene-habarugira-member-of-the-fdu-inkingi/#more-5821, Accessed 20 October 2017.
[3] The East African, “Rwanda’s independent candidates fail to get enough signatures,” 27 June 2017, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Independent-candidates-fail-signatures-Rwanda/2558-3990184-gfkwik/index.html, Accessed 28 September 2017.
[4] QZ, “Rwanda’s opposition candidates finally have a voice—but no real shot at the presidency,” 30 June 2017, https://qz.com/1017766/rwandas-paul-kagame-faces-election-with-more-outspoken-opposition-like-diane-shima-rwigara/, Accessed 28 September 2017.
[5] The East African, “Rwanda independent candidates allege harassment,” 5 June 2017, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Rwanda-independent-candidates-allege-govt-harassment–/2558-3956496-10cqiaiz/index.html, Accessed 28 September 2017.
[6] The East African, “Rwanda independent candidates allege harassment,” 5 June 2017, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Rwanda-independent-candidates-allege-govt-harassment–/2558-3956496-10cqiaiz/index.html, Accessed 28 September 2017.
[7] The East African, “Diane Rwigara arrested again, now faces treason charges,” 26 September 2017, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Diane-Rwigara-now-faces-treason-charges/2558-4111148-view-asAMP-405ma9z/index.html, Accessed 28 September 2017.
[8] Human Rights Watch, “Rwanda: Post-Election Political Crackdown,” 28 September 2017, https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/28/rwanda-post-election-political-crackdown, Accessed 17 October 2017.
[9] FDU-Inkingi, “The Arrest of Former Presidential Hopeful Ms. Diane Rwigara, FDU-Inkingi and PDP-Imanzi Members Kicks off the Political Programe of President Kagame,” 6 September 2017, http://www.fdu-rwanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/P5-Press-release.Arrest-Rwigare-FDU-Pdp-Members.pdf, Accessed 17 October 2017.
[10] Human Rights Watch, “Dwindling Options for Opposition Candidates in Rwanda,” 1 June 2017, https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/01/dwindling-options-opposition-candidates-rwanda, Accessed 28 September 2017.