Rwanda: Ingabire Denies Links to Militias, 2019 Kinigi Attack

What the report says

Victoire Ingabire has denied accusations in an ongoing case at Rwanda’s High Court in Kigali that she formed or belonged to a criminal group tied to the P5 coalition, which prosecutors link to attacks in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District, in 2019. The hearing took place on October 1, according to The New Times, which reported that the substantive phase of the trial began on September 18 with prosecutors outlining charges against Ingabire and 10 co-accused.

The prosecution alleges that the P5, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was behind the Kinigi attacks that killed 15 people and injured 14 others on the night of October 5, 2019. Ingabire, who founded the unregistered party DALFA-Umurinzi, told the court that she was not involved in the attack and said she condemned it. She also argued that her former party, FDU-Inkingi, joined the P5 while she was in prison and was represented by someone else at the time.

Ingabire further rejected claims that she personally took part in forming a criminal group or in alleged military training activities. She said prosecutors had not shown evidence of her direct role, specific agreements with others, or clear proof of when and how she supposedly sent fighters. She also questioned some documents used by the prosecution and said some materials were taken from her devices without her being told they would later be used in court.

The hearing was adjourned and was expected to resume on Monday. The case remains significant because it involves allegations of militant links, political organization and violence, all of which have major implications for Rwanda’s opposition politics and security discourse.