Prosecution lays out evidence in Ingabire’s seven-count trial

Prosecutors have presented evidence they say links opposition politician Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza to activities aimed at causing unrest and undermining Rwanda’s government as her trial continued before the High Court in Kigali.

Ingabire, founder of the unregistered opposition group DALFA-Umurinzi, is facing seven charges alongside co-defendants in a case involving allegations of forming or joining a criminal organisation, conspiring to commit offences against the government, inciting unrest, organising unlawful demonstrations and spreading false information or harmful propaganda.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecutors presented documents and other material which they said demonstrated Ingabire’s alleged role in spreading information intended to turn the public against the government.

The prosecution also referred to information allegedly recovered from electronic devices belonging to Ingabire and members of her organisation.

Prosecutors said some messages discussed people who were allegedly killed by the Rwandan government, while presenting examples of individuals whom they said were in fact known to have died from other causes or remained alive.

According to local reporting on Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors also cited documents containing names of people whom Ingabire allegedly claimed had been killed by the government.

The prosecution argued that such claims were used to create hostility towards the authorities and contribute to public unrest.

The prosecution has also alleged that Ingabire was involved in plans for an unlawful demonstration in central Kigali.

It presented audio recordings which prosecutors said captured discussions about preparations for the protest and the use of motorcycle taxi operators to quickly spread messages and create disruption.

The evidence forms part of a broader prosecution case alleging links between Ingabire’s former political organisation, FDU-Inkingi, and the P5 coalition, which prosecutors have described as an anti-Rwanda organisation.

The prosecution has also presented audio recordings and written documents to support its allegations.

Ingabire has previously denied involvement in the alleged activities.

Her case has attracted international scrutiny, with Amnesty International describing the charges as relating to peaceful political activities, while the European Parliament has also raised concerns about her prosecution.

Those positions contrast with the Rwandan prosecution’s case that the accused were involved in activities intended to undermine the government.

The High Court began hearing the case on its merits on September 18, after earlier procedural challenges by Ingabire and her defence team were rejected.

The court has given prosecutors four days to present their evidence before the proceedings move to the next stage.

The trial is continuing, and the allegations against Ingabire and her co-defendants have not yet been determined by the court.