The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Rwanda for 2023 sheds light on the concerning state of human rights abuses in the country. Throughout the year, various individuals, including commentators, journalists, opposition activists, and others who criticized public policies in Rwanda, faced abusive prosecutions, enforced disappearances, and even unsolved murders. The case of journalist John Williams Ntwali, who died under suspicious circumstances, exemplifies this issue, as the government’s claims of a road accident lack concrete evidence and leave many questions unanswered.
Another major development was the Rwandan military’s deployment of troops in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they offered support to the M23 armed group. This intervention facilitated the M23’s expansion of control over the Rutshuru and neighboring Masisi territories. Tragically, the M23, backed by Rwanda, committed numerous war crimes, including murders and rapes, which further exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
Within Rwanda itself, security forces continued to detain individuals deemed undesirable in an effort to clean the streets of Kigali. Street children, vendors, sex workers, homeless people, and beggars were targeted and taken to the unofficial Gikondo transit center, where they endured severe mistreatment and appalling detention conditions. Reports of torture also emerged from official prisons.
Politically, the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) and its affiliates employed measures both within the country and internationally to target and silence real or perceived opponents. As the 2024 general elections approached, the political space for opposition remained closed, and several members of the opposition were imprisoned in violation of Rwanda’s regional and international human rights obligations.
The year also witnessed the ongoing trial of individuals associated with the Ingabire Day event, organized by the Dalfa-Umurinzi party to discuss political repression in Rwanda. Many party members were held in pre-trial detention, with credible reports of torture and mistreatment in Rwandan prisons. Christopher Kayumba, a former journalist and founder of a new political party, was initially acquitted of charges but later found guilty on appeal. Notably, Paul Rusesabagina, a prominent critic of the Rwandan government, had his 25-year sentence commuted.
Freedom of expression remained under threat, as several journalists and commentators were jailed for reporting on security force abuses or criticizing the FPR. Blogger Aimable Karasira faced charges of genocide denial and divisionism, with his trial spanning the entire year.
While Rwanda has adopted a relatively progressive stance on LGBT rights, stigma and discrimination persist in practice. International justice efforts continued, leading to the arrests of major suspects involved in the 1994 genocide.
On the international front, the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on individuals, including Rwandan military commanders, for their involvement in human rights violations in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United States also imposed similar sanctions. However, the EU has not publicly condemned human rights violations against activists and journalists within Rwanda.
Despite challenges, efforts to promote accountability and address human rights abuses in Rwanda are ongoing. The year 2023 has brought to light a range of issues that demand international attention and action, as the violation of human rights continues to undermine the well-being and dignity of individuals in the country and the region at large.
