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Alerts - Rwanda

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Rwanda

Radio presenter held pending trial

"We condemn Habarugira Epaphrodite’s placement in pre-trial detention for something he said on the air," RSF said.

Rwanda

President should pardon journalists, says ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 urged the government to urgently revise its legislation, in particular the provisions on criminal defamation and incitement to genocide denial.

Rwanda

Proposed media law fails to safeguard free press

ARTICLE 19 welcomes several improvements in the draft, but calls on the government to bring the law into full compliance with international legal standards on the right to freedom of expression.

Rwanda

Three journalists arrested in the span of a week

Joseph Bideri was arrested following the publication of a series of articles in his newspaper regarding a case of embezzlement in the construction of the Rukarara hydro-electric dam.

Rwanda

Supreme Court urged to overturn journalists' convictions

On the eve of an appeal by journalists Agnès Uwimana Nkusi and Saïdati Mukabibi, ARTICLE 19 has submitted an amicus brief to the court elaborating upon international human rights law on freedom of expression and the media.

Rwanda

Rugambage murder trial verdict raises more questions than it answers, says RSF

Just before his death, the journalist published an article blaming the Rwandan authorities for the attempted murder of exiled army general Kayumba Nyamwasa on 19 June 2010 in Johannesburg.

Rwanda

Newspaper receives threats, suspends publication

Fidèle Gakire, the publisher of "Ishema", decided to suspend publication for one month as a result of the serious threats he has reportedly been receiving.

Rwanda

Two leading members of human rights group arrested, interrogated

The Regional Human Rights League in the Great Lakes Region is one of the few remaining independent human rights organisations in Rwanda - a country where reporting on human rights abuses invariably results in hostile reactions by the government.

Rwanda

Glimmer of hope as Cabinet approves Access to Information Bill

The bill seeks to entrench the practice of transparency and accountability in public service delivery.

Rwanda

Exiled journalist gets 30-month prison sentence

Jean Bosco Gasasira risks arrest if he returns to his country.

Rwanda

Prosecutors seek 10-year sentence for exiled newspaper editor

Jean Bosco Gasasira is charged with "spreading rumours that incited civil disobedience", "insulting the president" and "deliberately violating the country's media law".

Rwanda

ARTICLE 19 welcomes revised Access to Information Bill

The bill sets out progressive standards on access to information, including a strong public interest test and short time frames for government bodies to respond to requests for information.

Rwanda

Prison term for opposition leader

Bernard Ntaganda was sentenced to four years in jail on charges of endangering national security, "divisionism" and attempting to organise demonstrations without authorisation.

Rwanda

Seventeen years in jail for one woman journalist, seven years for another

Agnes Uwimana Nkusi and Saidath Mukakibibi are charged with inciting civil disobedience, causing divisions and denying the 1994 genocide.

Rwanda

CPJ opposes demands for prison terms for journalists

The prosecutor has called for long prison terms for editors Agnès Uwimana and Saidati Mukakibibi on charges related to the publication of opinion pieces in the weekly "Umurabyo".

Rwanda

Presidential adviser should retract accusation against editor

Presidential security adviser Richard Rutatina accused editor Nelson Gatsimbazi of working with "enemies of the state" during a forum on human rights.

Rwanda

Opposition party leaders targeted

The political parties of detainees Victoire Ingabire and Bernard Ntaganda have been critical of the government and were not allowed to run in recent presidential elections.

Rwanda

Around 30 news media outlets closed ahead of presidential election

Press freedom violations, including the closure of media outlets and the murder of a newspaper editor, have intensified in the run-up to the election, RSF said.

Rwanda

Editor arrested after criticising Kagame government

Agnès Uwimana was taken into custody over allegations that her paper had published stories "inciting the public to disobey", and "articles related to division and ethnicity".

Rwanda

Skepticism greets arrests in journalist's murder

"The burden is on the Rwandan government to conduct a thorough, transparent investigation and to produce credible results," CPJ said.

Rwanda

JED urges authorities to launch independent investigation following assassination of its correspondent

JED notes that Rugambage and his newspaper had been harassed by the authorities for several months.

Rwanda

Journalist killed in Kigali

Jean Leonard Rugambage, deputy chief editor of "Umuvugizi" newspaper, was shot as he entered his home in a Kigali suburb.

Rwanda

Tabloid website blocked

The censorship comes a month after the "Umuvugizi" publisher vowed to move the publication online.

Rwanda

Editor of bi-monthly acquitted on appeal

A judge quashed Niyonambaza's two-year jail sentence and ordered his immediate release.

Rwanda

Rwanda shuts critical papers in run-up to presidential vote

On 13 April 2010, the Media High Council announced an immediate six-month suspension of the private Kinyarwandan-language weeklies "Umuseso" and "Umuvugizi".

Rwanda

Fears of repression resurface after journalist goes missing

Godwin Agaba, who is known for his hard-hitting investigative reporting, has not been heard from in two weeks.

Rwanda

Court sentences three journalists to prison

Charles Kabonero, Didas Gasana and Richard Kayigamba of the weekly "Umuseso" were found guilty of "invading privacy" in one of their articles.

Rwanda

Tabloid accused of defaming government officials

The weekly "Umuseso" is in court for allegedly defaming the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Protais Musoni and Kigali Mayor Aisa Kirabo Kakira.

Rwanda

Heavy fines but no jail time for editor convicted of defamation

Jean Bosco Gasasira was convicted on charges of defamation and invasion of privacy but acquitted on the more serious charge of insult and abuse.

Rwanda

ARTICLE 19 reviews draft law on access to information

"In adopting its right to information law, Rwanda will join nearly 90 other countries and territories who have done so worldwide," says ARTICLE 19.

Rwanda

CPJ concerned about politicisation in Rwandan defamation case

CPJ is concerned that the prosecution of editor-in-chief Jean Bosco Gasasira on criminal defamation charges has been politicized and the outcome predetermined.

Rwanda

ARTICLE 19 releases its comment on Genocide Ideology Law

ARTICLE 19 recommends that the Genocide Ideology Law should be repealed in its entirety.

Rwanda

Former Radio Rwanda journalist sentenced to life imprisonment

Dominique Makeli had previously been acquitted of genocide and released in October 2008 after being detained for nearly 14 years.

Rwanda

Media council wants tabloid suspended for defaming President Kagame

The demand stems from an article published by "Umuseso" in its July 20-27 issue comparing President Kagame with former president Habyarimana.

Rwanda

BBC back on air under strict conditions

The Rwanda government has lifted the two-month ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)'s Kinyarwanda-Kirundi program, but under strict conditions.

Rwanda

President sends media bill back to Parliament

Rwanda's controversial Media Bill is back in Parliament after President Paul Kagame rejected it in an apparent response to petitions by local media and press freedom groups.

Rwanda

Government suspends BBC radio service for "unacceptable speech" in programme on genocide

(Media Institute/IFEX) - On 25 April 2009, the Rwandan government suspended the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) local-language radio service in the country saying it threatened the country's national reconciliation by hosting people with views negating the 1994 genocide.

Rwanda

Radio reporter freed after being held for 14 years on genocide charge

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned that Dominique Makeli, a former reporter with state-owned Radio Rwanda who had been held since 1994 on a vague, genocide-related charge, was released on 13 October 2008.

Rwanda

Deputy managing editor of independent weekly deported

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns this week's deportation of Fuhara Mugisha, the deputy managing editor of Rwanda's leading independent weekly, "Umuseso". Despite having a Rwandan mother, Mugisha is a citizen of neighbouring Tanzania.

Rwanda

Journalists expelled from World Press Freedom Day event; RSF concerned about increasing contempt shown by government for certain journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is deeply disturbed by the increasingly fraught climate for the press in Rwanda, in particular the expulsion of three newspaper editors from a 2 May 2008 ceremony marking World Press Freedom Day on the orders of the new information minister, Louise Mushikiwabo.

Rwanda

Newspaper editor charged, in hiding, home raided

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Rwanda

Two independent journalists sentenced for alleged defamation

(JED/IFEX) - On 8 February 2008, a Nyarugenge court sentenced Charles Kabonero and Didas Gasana, managing editor and editor-in-chief, respectively, of "Umuseso", a privately-owned weekly newspaper published in Kigali, the capital city, to a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, and a one million Rwandan franc (approx. US$2,000) fine.

Rwanda

Newspaper editor released after completing one-year prison sentence; Belgian journalist denied entry following critical coverage of government

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders notes that Agnès Nkusi Uwimana, the editor of the privately-owned fortnightly "Umurabyo", was released on 19 January 2008 on completing the one-year sentence for "creating divisions," "sectarianism" and "defamation" that she was given by a Kigali court on 20 April 2007. She was arrested on 12 January 2007.

Rwanda

Woman journalist is cleared of genocide charges and released after 11 years in detention

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned with great relief that Tatiana Mukakibibi, a former presenter and producer with state-owned Radio Rwanda, was finally acquitted of genocide charges by a "gacaca" popular tribunal in the southern district of Ruhango on 6 November 2007 after 11 years in pre-trial detention. Aged 42, Mukakibibi was reunited with her family on 10 November.

Rwanda

Media group halts publishing in protest over government harassment; plot exposed to arrest journalist on trumped up charges; two journalists facing trial

(Media Institute/IFEX) - Rwanda's biggest independent private media group has suspended publication of its titles citing continued state blackmail and intimidation.

Rwanda

Four ministers threaten independent media in comments on state TV and radio

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep concern about the future of press freedom and independent journalists in Rwanda after studying the very disturbing comments made by four government ministers, another senior official and two members of the security forces during a programme broadcast by the state-owned media on 9 September 2007.

Rwanda

Editor released after being held for eight days on rape charge

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that Gérard M. Manzi, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Umuseso", was released on 29 August 2007 after his lawyer submitted signed statements by witnesses supporting his alibi in a rape charge on which the police had held him for eight days. Manzi was told he must remain at the disposal of the police.

Rwanda

Newspaper editor held on dubious rape charge

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the authorities to explain why Gérard M. Manzi, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Umuseso", has been held since 22 August 2007 on a charge of raping an unidentified young girl despite having an alibi supported by many witnesses.

Rwanda

Newspaper's perceived ties to neighbouring Uganda may have precipitated closure

(Media Institute/IFEX) - The Rwanda government on 6 June 2007 ordered the closure of the privately owned "Weekly Post" for unknown reasons.

Rwanda

Government strips new journal's licence after first edition

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 June 2007 CPJ press release:

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