In a significant development ahead of the July elections, a Rwandan court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal by Bernard Ntaganda, a prominent opposition figure, to overturn his previous convictions.
This decision effectively bars him from challenging President Paul Kagame in the upcoming polls. Ntaganda, 55, known for his vocal criticism of Rwanda’s leadership, had sought to have convictions dating back over a decade expunged.
Ntaganda’s appeal, filed in February at the High Court in Kigali, was met with a ruling by a three-judge panel rejecting his plea.
The basis of the decision was cited as Ntaganda’s alleged failure to meet the legal requirement of paying court fees amounting to almost 106,000 Rwandan francs (approximately $82) linked to his prior convictions.
According to the court ruling, Ntaganda’s inability to adhere to this legal procedure led to the dismissal of his appeal.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the ruling, Ntaganda, a lawyer and founder of the PS-Imberakuri party, highlighted what he perceives as the influence of the ruling party, the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front), on the judicial system.
Despite claiming to possess evidence of payment for the court fees, Ntaganda labeled the outcome as unsurprising, suggesting a lack of judicial independence.
This is not the first instance of an opposition figure being sidelined from challenging Kagame in the electoral arena.
In March, Victoire Ingabire, another staunch opponent of Kagame, faced a similar setback when a court refused to overturn her previous convictions, rendering her ineligible for the upcoming elections.
Rwanda’s electoral landscape has been marked by a series of controversies and restrictions, with individuals convicted of crimes, including opposition figures, facing disqualification from holding public office.
With Ntaganda’s appeal dismissed, and previous convictions upheld, the path seems clearer for Kagame, who has held power since 2000 and is expected to secure a fourth term in office.
The elections, scheduled for July 15, are poised to shape Rwanda’s political trajectory amidst ongoing concerns over human rights abuses and limitations on opposition activity.
