Following Rwanda’s election-related crackdown on the independent media, the UK is finally starting to wise up, says Lars Waldorf
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The Rwandan director of Human Rights Watch faces deportation from the central African state after her work permit was revoked. Immigration officials claim to have found “anomalies” in Carina Tertsakian’s accreditation documents at a time when relations between president Paul Kagame and the New York-based organisation are strained. Innocent Niyonsenga, communications manager at the Immigration Department, explained that Tertsakian must secure a new visa or measures would be taken to remove her from Rwanda. Human Rights Watch claimed in February that opposition activists are facing increasing threats and harassment ahead of Rwanda’s presidential election in August. President Paul Kagame denied this accusation on Tuesday (16 March) saying that he had a problem with the human rights community commenting on issues from outside the country.
A prominent independent Rwandan reporter is missing amid concerns that security forces are cracking down on dissenters. The Ugandan news agency 256news.com has expressed concern that its correspondent Godwin Agaba has been arrested or disappeared on president Paul Kagame’s orders. The Rwandan police have denied that he is being held. However, Kagame said earlier this month that he had information on journalists working with those opposed to him.