Breaking: Victoire Ingabire Officially Detained by RIB

Rwanda’s RIB detains Victoire Ingabire following a court order. She's now accused of organizing unrest and forming a criminal group.

6/20/25, 4:00 PM

Written By |

Serge Kitoko Tshibanda

Political Analyst

Serge Kitoko Tshibanda

Kigali, Rwanda - June 19, 2025 | XTRAfrica News

Just hours after the High Court ordered a deeper investigation into opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Rwanda’s Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed her official detention.

Rwanda: High Court Orders Probe Into Ingabire Over Coup Plot Case

In a statement posted on its official X (Twitter) account, RIB said it launched the investigation on June 19, acting on the High Court’s directive to examine Ingabire’s possible connection to a case involving Sylvain Sibomana and others accused of trying to overthrow the government.

INGABIRE UMUHOZA Victoire is being investigated along with others for creating a criminal group and planning acts aimed at stirring unrest among the population,” reads the RIB statement in Kinyarwanda.

She is currently being held at RIB’s Remera station, awaiting formal transfer to the Prosecution Office.

From Court Order to Custody - All in One Day

Earlier today, Ingabire appeared in court, where judges declared her explanation “insufficient” regarding her alleged ties to political training linked to her unregistered party, DALFA-Umurinzi.

The court then ordered prosecutors to investigate her fully and report back within two weeks. Now, in a swift development, that investigation has moved straight into detention, raising further concern among observers.

Rights groups and Pan-African observers are raising alarm over what they see as a dangerous escalation in Rwanda’s ongoing clampdown on dissent.

Turning a courtroom summons into a jail cell in under 24 hours makes it clear -this is about intimidation, not justice,” said a regional analyst.

What’s Next?

RIB says the investigation is ongoing and Ingabire will be handed over to prosecutors in due time. Meanwhile, activists across Africa and in the diaspora are mobilizing to demand transparency, protection, and due process in her case.