Rwanda genocide

KIGALI – THE authoritarian regime in Rwanda has prevented an editor, who is critical of the country’s human rights record, from attending the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) in Switzerland.

Robert “Bob” Mugabe, editor of the online news outlet, Great Lakes Voice, has been held at a local airport and interrogated for hours amid accusations of “working against the state, treason and spreading rumors to undermine the state.”

Mugabe risks being charged for treason.

Human rights groups denounced the development.

“While the international community is gathered in Geneva to discuss policies that will shape the internet and our digital future, the Rwandan government prevented Bob Mugabe from attending the IGF, holding him at the airport and interrogating him for four hours about his human rights work,” said Sanja Kelly, director at Freedom House.

Kelly urged the UN and the IGF Secretariat to urge the Rwandan government to end its arbitrary investigations and immediately lift the travel ban against Mugabe.

The administration of President Paul Kagame is accused of severe human rights abuses.

Earlier this month, the UN Committee Against Torture raised concerns about torture, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances as well as intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition party members.

– CAJ News