Rwanda is often celebrated abroad for its progress and stability, but behind this polished image lies a darker political reality. Rémy Amahirwa, the son of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, describes how his mother’s return from exile in 2010 to challenge President Paul Kagame led to her arrest, an unfair trial, and years of imprisonment. Although she was released in 2018, she remained under strict limitations, unable to travel or engage in politics. In June 2025, just as her restricted status was set to expire, she was arrested again under vague, politically motivated charges. Her case reflects the broader repression faced by dissidents in Rwanda, many of whom have been imprisoned, disappeared, or killed.
Rémy calls on democratic nations to stop turning a blind eye to Kagame’s authoritarian rule, which silences critics while maintaining strong international partnerships and receiving foreign aid. He urges the global community to demand accountability, support political freedoms, and ensure that aid is conditional on respect for human rights and the rule of law. Without such pressure, hope for a democratic future in Rwanda—and freedom for political prisoners like his mother—will remain out of reach.
Link to full article: The west ignores Rwanda’s dark side – and political prisoners like my mother pay the price – Rémy Amahirwa