Skip to content
EU Parl Watch

resolution motion, 8 September 2025

On the case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda

Motion B-10-2025-0395 · (2025/2861(RSP))

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Adam Bielan, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Marion Maréchal, Nicolas Bay, Carlo Fidanza, Alexandr Vondra, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Alberico Gambino

On Parliament’s site PDF Word

AI:In short

This resolution condemns the Rwandan government's treatment of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, calls for her release and fair trial, and urges compliance with international human rights obligations.

Key points

  1. Condemns the Rwandan government's persistent inhumane treatment of Victoire Ingabire and expresses deep concern at politically motivated charges against her.
  2. Calls for a free and fair trial meeting international standards for Ingabire; if not, demands her unconditional release and restoration of her civil and political rights.
  3. Expresses concern at the pattern of abuses against opposition parties, journalists, activists, and other critics of the government.
  4. Calls on the Rwandan Government to comply with its international human rights obligations.
  5. Reiterates that a functioning opposition, vibrant civil society, and independent media are essential to maintaining economic and social development gains in the post-genocide era.

Who is affected

  • Victoire Ingabire, Rwandan opposition leader, who faces charges and has been detained.
  • Rwandan government, which is called on to ensure fair trial or release Ingabire and comply with human rights obligations.
  • Opposition parties, journalists, activists, and critics of the Rwandan government, who face abuses.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 19 paragraphs

B100395/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda

(2025/2861(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Rwanda,

having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,

having regard to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Victoire Ingabire, a Rwandan opposition leader heading the unrecognised DALFA-Umurinzi party, was arrested by Rwandan authorities on 19 June 2025;

whereas Ingebire faces charges of establishing or joining a criminal organisation, conspiring to commit crimes against the government, inciting unrest, resisting lawful authority, organising or participating in unlawful demonstrations, and spreading false information and propaganda intended to discredit the government internationally; whereas the charges against her are widely seen as politically motivated;

whereas in 2010 Ingabire returned to Rwanda after 16 years of exile in the Netherlands, intending to challenge President Kagame in the presidential election, but was barred from running; whereas she was arrested and prosecuted on charges of “genocide ideology” and terrorism in a trial widely denounced by the international community; whereas she was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, of which she served eight, five in solitary confinement;

whereas on 24 November 2017 the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that Rwanda violated Ingabire’s rights, specifically her right to freedom of expression and her right to a proper defence; whereas the Rwandan government refused to acknowledge or comply with the decision;

Read the rest (7 paragraphs)

whereas Ingabire was pardoned by President Kagame in September 2018; whereas she was barred from running for public office and from travelling abroad without permission from the Minister of Justice; whereas her repeated requests to visit her family in the Netherlands have gone unanswered;

whereas Ingabire’s request to expunge her criminal record and allow her to run in the July 2024 presidential election was rejected; whereas official results declared President Kagame the winner with over 99 percent of the vote;

whereas Ingabire’s arrest follows the earlier arrests of eight activists from her party, and journalist Théoneste Nsengimana, in October and December 2021; whereas they are being prosecuted for their participation in an online training detailing non-violent mobilization techniques;

Condemns the Rwandan government’s persistent inhumane treatment of Victoire Ingabire; expresses its deep concern at the politically motivated charges and calls for a free and fair trial meeting international standards; in the absence of such a trial, demands Ingabire’s unconditional release and the restoration of her civil and political rights;

Is concerned at the pattern of abuses against opposition parties, journalists, activists, and other critics of the government; calls on the Rwandan Government to comply with its international human rights obligations;

Reiterates that a functioning opposition, a vibrant civil society and independent media are essential to maintaining the gains achieved in economic and social development in the post-genocide era;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of Rwanda, the VP/HR, the Council, Member States, the African Union, and the United Nations.