Monday, December 23, 2024

Rwanda: Court frees Kagame’s critic Diane Rwigara

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Isaac Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

Diane Rwigara, an outspoken critic of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has been granted bail by a court in the capital Kigali.

Rwigara and her mother have been freed on bail after spending a year in prison. They are both facing charges of forgery and inciting insurrection.

The activist was arrested shortly after declaring her intention to run for President in 2017. President Kagame won that election.

The court ruled that the prosecution did not give credible reasons why the two women should be detained during their trial.

The state prosecution team is unhappy with the decision and says it disagrees with the bail granted the two.

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It however said it will be preparing properly for the trail itself.

Diane Rwigara and her mother sitting in court room. Photo: BBC

Condition of bail

Rwigara and her mother per the bail conditions cannot leave Kigali without permission. They will have to submit their travel documents to state prosecutors.


There was drama in court when friends and relatives of the two rushed to hug them shouting “God is Great”.


Rwigara’s documents were scrutinized last year when she decided to challenge Paul Kagame for the top job. She was declared unfit to run.

Rwigara was arrested for non payment of taxes from her family tobacco business. The Revenue Authority said the unpaid taxes amount to $7million.

Her assets were auctioned this year by the country’s authorities. The amount raised from the auctioned assets was to settle unpaid taxes.

The auctioned property raised almost $2m which is to settle part of the tax arrears officials said she owes.

Who is Rwigara?

Rwigara is a 35-year-old accountant. She had accused President Kagame of stifling dissent and holding on to power.

Her accusation came up shortly before she declared her intention to contest the presidential election which President Kagame won.

Her father died in a car accident in 2015 that her family maintains was politically motivated. Rwigara has always maintained that accusations against her are baseless.

 

 

 

Source: Africafeeds.com

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