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Kigali, Rwanda — June 19, 2025 | XTRAfrica News

In a decision that has sparked fresh criticism of Rwanda’s judicial independence, the High Court in Kigali has officially ordered a criminal investigation into opposition figure Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza - potentially dragging her back into court as a co-accused in an alleged plot to overthrow President Paul Kagame’s government.

Ingabire, who was granted a presidential pardon in 2018 after serving eight years in prison on previous charges widely seen as politically motivated, now finds herself at the center of a new legal storm. The court ruled that her testimony was "insufficient" and instructed prosecutors to gather more evidence over the next two weeks before possibly charging her.

The Charges: Real or Manufactured?

The current case involves nine accused individuals, including journalist Théoneste Nsengimana, who were allegedly part of an online training initiative meant to organize peaceful resistance. The prosecution claims these sessions were backed by DALFA-Umurinzi, Ingabire’s unregistered political party, and were aimed at "mobilizing the public for regime change."

Ingabire denied any involvement, saying she neither planned nor participated in any such training and that DALFA-Umurinzi, which has never been legally recognized, has no connection to the accused. She emphasized that her efforts to register the party were repeatedly blocked by authorities, leaving it inactive.

Despite this, the judges ruled her responses unconvincing and cited "evidence in the case file" that suggests she may have played a role in the planning or communication around the events in question.

Political Targeting Disguised as Justice?

Legal analysts and Pan-African observers say the timing and tone of the case point to a broader pattern: criminalizing dissent.