{"id":2578,"date":"2018-12-06T15:15:24","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T15:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/subsaharanafricablog\/?p=2578"},"modified":"2018-12-06T15:15:24","modified_gmt":"2018-12-06T15:15:24","slug":"critic-of-rwandan-president-cleared-of-insurrection-and-forgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/subsaharanafricablog\/2018\/12\/06\/critic-of-rwandan-president-cleared-of-insurrection-and-forgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Critic of Rwandan president cleared of insurrection and forgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

A prominent critic of veteran Rwandan president Paul Kagame has been acquitted by Rwanda\u2019s high court of\u00a0charges that included inciting insurrection and forging of documents<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Diane Rwigara, a 37-year-old activist and accountant has repeatedly accused Kagame of stifling dissent and criticised his Rwandan Patriotic Front\u2019s unyielding grip on power since it assumed control after ending the country\u2019s 1994 genocide.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Her attempt to stand against Kagame in\u00a0the country\u2019s last presidential poll in August last year<\/a>\u00a0was blocked after she was accused of not submitting enough supporters\u2019 signatures and that some of those she submitted were forged.<\/p>\n

\u201cCourt rules that Diane Rwigara is innocent,\u201d Xavier Ndahayo, one of a panel of three judges, told a packed courtroom in the capital Kigali. Rwigara\u2019s mother was also acquitted of charges of inciting insurrection and discrimination.<\/p>\n

The courtroom, packed with diplomats and supporters, erupted in applause when the verdict was read out , as Diane Rwigara and her mother were overcome with tears. Excited relatives who had prayed before the hearing for protection swarmed them with hugs.<\/p>\n