A peaceful demonstration is scheduled this Sunday, 6 July 2025, in Brussels’ Place du Luxembourg, in support of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a prominent figure in the Rwandan opposition who has once again been imprisoned in Rwanda under circumstances her supporters describe as arbitrary and politically motivated.
Under the slogan #FreeVictoireIngabire, several associations, members of the Rwandan diaspora, and human rights activists are calling on the public to join them between 1pm and 3pm to demand the immediate release of Ms Ingabire, known for her long-standing commitment to non-violent democratic activism, civil liberties, and human rights in Rwanda.
According to her supporters, Victoire Ingabire was arrested in Kigali 13 days ago, just as she was nearing the end of a previous 15-year prison sentence. This new arrest is widely denounced as unjustified and politically driven, reportedly triggered by her announcement that she intended to run for the presidency in the upcoming Rwandan election. Her critics believe she was targeted for daring to challenge President Paul Kagame, who has held power for over two decades.
In a statement shared on social media, activist Emmanuel Mwiseneza condemned “the judicial persecution of a courageous woman who refuses to be silenced by an authoritarian regime.” He argued that this arrest is part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent in Rwanda.
A second gathering is scheduled the same day at 4pm on Rue Marcq 25 in Brussels — a monthly meeting of pro-democracy supporters — which will also serve as a fundraising event in support of the campaign to free Ms Ingabire.
Organisers are calling on civil society organisations, human rights defenders, the Rwandan diaspora, and concerned citizens in Europe to join their efforts. They view Ingabire’s imprisonment as emblematic of growing repression in the Great Lakes region and hope to build international awareness and pressure.
Victoire Ingabire returned to Rwanda in 2010 after years in exile in the Netherlands. She was arrested shortly after declaring her intention to run for president and was later sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of conspiracy and “minimising the genocide” — charges widely criticised by international NGOs as politically motivated. Although she was conditionally released in 2018, she remained under close surveillance and continued to speak out against government repression.
Organisers of the rally hope that Saturday’s mobilisation in Brussels will draw the attention of European public opinion and international institutions, urging them to hold the Rwandan government accountable and demand Ingabire’s release.
Therwandan
