Freedom Of Speech Is Still An Issue In Rwanda – Human Rights Watch

Posted by: Suubi Anne in African News March 17, 2022

The Human Rights Watch, HRW, has said up until now, freedom of speech in Rwanda is still an issue. HRW says dozens of people have been harassed, threatened or prosecuted for holding critical opinions about Rwanda’s government.

In a report by the US-based group, an urgent release of activists, journalists and opposition leaders arrested in Rwanda was demanded.

In 1994, hateful and dangerous speech broadcast in the media played a key role in inciting the Rwandan genocide. About 800,000 people died in just 100 days.

However, HRW says censoring speech and restricting journalists, bloggers and YouTube commentators has gone too far.

Much as the rights group recognizes the government’s concern about speech leading to violence, they say that what it sees in the country is the complete banning of debates, opinions, and criticism of government policies.

Recently, the government charged a YouTuber with humiliating public officials. He published a series of videos accusing soldiers of abusing people living in slums.

Meanwhile, as all this is going on, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has not yet said anything about this. There are multiple reports about the lack of freedom of speech in Rwanda.

However, the government has done nothing about it. One may say probably they don’t want to witness another genocide due to speech but the HRW says it’s beyond that now.

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