In Rwanda, Victoire Ingabire will not be able to run in the presidential election on July 15, after a court decision issued this Wednesday, March 13. A figure in the opposition to President Paul Kagame, the politician was stripped of her rights after her sentence to 15 years in prison in 2013 for “ conspiracy against the authorities through terrorism and war ” And ” minimization of the 1994 genocide “.
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At Rwanda, the judges of the Nyamirambo High Court refused the opponent’s request, filed last February, to regain her political rights and in particular the right to stand as a candidate in an election. Victoire Ingabire claimed to have respected all the conditions imposed after her release by presidential pardon in 2018, reports our correspondent in Kigali, Lucie Mouillaud.
It’s a court decision disappointing for the politician who planned to run in the presidential election, scheduled for July 15, against President Paul Kagame, candidate for re-election for a fourth term.
“ A missed opportunity for Rwandashe asserts, to make significant progress towards the establishment of a true democracy. » During a hearing in February, the public prosecutor had already requested against the rehabilitation of Victoire Ingabire, who according to him, had notably continued political activities after her release.
“ His appeal is baseless »
“ I do not agree with this decision. It is clearly politicized. We still have a country where the courts are still not independent “, she reacted this Wednesday March 13 to AFP from the court in the capital Kigali, where she attended the announcement of the decision.
“ During the presidential pardon granted to Ingabire, certain conditions were set that she must respect. It is impossible to overturn the conviction, since the conditions imposed during his presidential pardon have not expired. His appeal is therefore unfounded. », Declared for its part the Rwandan court in its decision.
The 55-year-old opponent, who cannot appeal this decision for two years, was stripped of her rights after her conviction in 2013 to 15 years in prison, notably for “ minimization of the 1994 genocide », which left 800,000 dead between April and July 1994, mainly among the Tutsi minority. Of Hutu origin, Victoire Ingabire was arrested and accused of denying the reality of the genocide, after asking in January 2010 that the perpetrators of crimes against Hutus also be tried.
(And with AFP)
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