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Kagame's female critic and family slapped with multiple charges in Rwanda

Kagame's female critic and family slapped with multiple charges in Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwandan prosecution has stated that President Paul Kagame’s critic Diane Rwigara, her sister Anne and mother Adeline will be charged with multiple charges including inciting insurrection.

35-year-old Diane Rwigara and her family were arrested three times last month and detained for alleged tax evasion and offenses against state security.

Head of prosecution Faustin Nkusi told local media that the three women will “share a charge of inciting insurrection or trouble amongst the population but we have a separate charge for Diane Rwigara which is use of counterfeited documents”.

Diane’s mother Adeline Rwigara is also facing a separate charge of “using discrimination and sectarian practices”, he added.

They are expected to be brought before a court on Thursday.

Diane Rwigara faced intimidation when she expressed her interest in running for president against Kagame who was running for a third term after a referendum allowing him to contest.

She was subsequently disqualified with other opposition candidates for errors in application forms and inadequate signatures from the districts.

Her arrests has been described by civil society and rights organisations as politically motivated as a result of the series of arrests and unspecified charges.

If found guilty for the charge of inciting insurrection, they could face 10 to 15 years in prison.

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