In the European Parliament, French deputy Thierry Mariani delivered strong words against Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Mariani described Kagame as a “bloodthirsty and authoritarian dictator” who has sponsored massacres, civil persecutions, and the looting of mineral resources in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
For many years, Kagame was seen as a favorite of Brussels. Despite his violent record, the European Union turned a blind eye, even accepting his fourth re-election with a “Soviet score of 99.18%.”
Mariani said this blind support is finally beginning to change under the new European Commission. However, he stressed that the past silence and complacency towards Kigali remain “intolerable” and contradict the moral principles the EU claims to defend.
Victoire Ingabire: A Symbol of Hope
Mariani highlighted the case of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, calling her “a symbol facing the executioner of the Great Lakes Region.” He said Ingabire represents the hope for democracy in Rwanda — a hope Kagame has tried to kill through her arrest and arbitrary imprisonment.
READ ALSO: Breaking: Victoire Ingabire Officially Detained by RIB
Call for European Action
According to Mariani, the European Union now has a duty:
To revive the democratic hope embodied by Victoire Ingabire
To demand her immediate release
POLITICS & HUMAN RIGHTS
French MEP Thierry Mariani Calls Kagame a Bloodthirsty Dictator
Sep 11, 2025
May 15, 2026
2 min read
Published
Updated:
In the European Parliament, French deputy Thierry Mariani delivered strong words against Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Mariani described Kagame as a “bloodthirsty and authoritarian dictator” who has sponsored massacres, civil persecutions, and the looting of mineral resources in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
For many years, Kagame was seen as a favorite of Brussels. Despite his violent record, the European Union turned a blind eye, even accepting his fourth re-election with a “Soviet score of 99.18%.”
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Mariani said this blind support is finally beginning to change under the new European Commission. However, he stressed that the past silence and complacency towards Kigali remain “intolerable” and contradict the moral principles the EU claims to defend.
Victoire Ingabire: A Symbol of Hope
Mariani highlighted the case of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, calling her “a symbol facing the executioner of the Great Lakes Region.” He said Ingabire represents the hope for democracy in Rwanda — a hope Kagame has tried to kill through her arrest and arbitrary imprisonment.
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READ ALSO: Breaking: Victoire Ingabire Officially Detained by RIB
Call for European Action
According to Mariani, the European Union now has a duty:
To revive the democratic hope embodied by Victoire Ingabire
To demand her immediate release
To cancel all forms of financial and trade cooperation with Rwanda
“Europe must finally stop being an accomplice of Kigali,” he concluded.
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Why This Matters
This is one of the strongest statements yet from a European Parliament member openly calling Kagame out as a dictator. It signals growing pressure in Europe against Kagame’s regime, especially over his crimes in Congo and repression inside Rwanda.
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