Victoire Ingabire

Victoire Ingabire is a prominent opposition politician who has been held in pre-trial detention in Rwanda since June 2025 on charges related to participating in an online training on nonviolent resistance.

Ingabire is a central figure in the Rwandan pro-democracy movement. From 1997 to 2010, she was in exile in the Netherlands, served as president of a coalition of opposition parties in exile called the Union of Rwandan Democratic Forces, and founded the opposition party United Democratic Forces (“FDU-Inkingi”).

Ingabire returned to Rwanda in 2010 to register FDU-Inkingi and contest the presidential election. Within months, authorities arrested her, first placing her under house arrest and then rearresting her in October 2010. In 2012, following a politically motivated trial, the High Court sentenced her to eight years for “terrorism” and “genocide denial,” a sentence increased to fifteen years by the Supreme Court in 2013.

In 2017, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights found Rwanda had violated her rights to free expression and a fair trial, but the government ignored the ruling. She was pardoned in 2018 after eight years in prison (including five years in solitary confinement) and subsequently monitored, restricted from travel, and blocked from registering a new party, DALFA-Umurinzi. Her fellow party members also faced prosecutions, threats, torture, and disappearances.

In 2021, nine individuals were arrested for participating in an online training on nonviolent resistance. Ingabire was questioned at the time, but prosecutors found no grounds to charge her. However, during the nine defendants’ trial, prosecutors repeatedly invoked Ingabire’s name. On June 17, 2025, a High Court judge questioned why she had not been charged, subpoenaed her as a witness, and ordered prosecutors to investigate her.

On June 19, 2025, RIB searched her home, arrested her, and interrogated her until 5 a.m. The detention report cited alleged involvement in a criminal organization, unclear identity, and risk of absconding, despite her known residence and years of compliance with state-imposed restrictions.

Authorities have accused Ingabire of establishing or joining a criminal organization, conspiring to commit crimes against the government, inciting unrest, spreading fabricated rumors, and disseminating false information and anti-government propaganda

The indictment frames her alleged involvement in online nonviolent-resistance training, “Ingabire Day,” YouTube commentary, and political organizing as part of a strategy to “overthrow the government,” and asserts unproven links to groups previously labeled terrorist.

Ingabire’s detainment has been plagued with irregularities that violate her right to a fair trial. First, she was brought before a court only on July 8, nearly three weeks after arrest. Second, courts repeatedly denied bail on generalized, non-individualized grounds, ignoring her arguments, compliance history, fixed residence, and completed investigation. Third, the judges who ordered the investigation into her supposed role will preside over her trial, raising serious concerns about impartiality and presumption of innocence. Fourth, restrictions on access to counsel including monitored meetings, limited time, and denial of her international legal team undermined her right to prepare a defense.

Ingabire has also been held in solitary confinement, barred from contacting her family abroad, denied her prescribed diet and medical items, housed with a convicted murderer, and denied outdoor access except during transport.

The European Parliament called for her release and dismissal of charges, and UN Special Rapporteurs expressed concern. Rwanda has not responded and Ingabire remains in detention.