Appeal for Peace and Justice in Rwanda

It seems that President Trump is poised to facilitate a ceasefire between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo this June, as outlined in a recent peace agreement. This is a crucial diplomatic moment, and I feel compelled to highlight the importance of justice, particularly through the voice of my mother, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. Her silencing behind bars serves as a barrier to any real and lasting peace.

Since I was young, my mother has been a fearless opposition leader in Rwanda. In 2010, she made the bold choice to leave our comfortable life in the Netherlands to return to Rwanda and compete in the presidential elections.

Unfortunately, upon her return, she was arrested for challenging the narrative surrounding the 1994 genocide and advocating for genuine reconciliation. Her politically motivated trial led to a 15-year sentence, condemned by legal organizations globally.

Eventually, the African Court on Human and People’s Rights cleared her of all charges. She even claimed that she should be compensated, but the Rwandan government has ignored the ruling, failing to meet its international obligations.

My mother spent eight long years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement. I was merely a teenager when the Rwandan government first imprisoned her, disrupting our family life. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp the situation or know how to advocate for her.

Over the years, my brother and I have watched as our mother endured isolation and hardship. When she was finally released in 2018 through a presidential pardon, we yearned to reunite, but her freedom came with strings attached. She was not allowed to leave Rwanda, resulting in missed family milestones, like weddings and the birth of her grandson. My daughter, Nehair, who is 10 and a U.S. citizen, has never met her grandmother.

She often asks, “Why can’t grandma visit me?” It’s difficult to explain that to her, and honestly, I struggle to understand it myself.

This year, I finally managed to visit my mother and introduce her to my wife and our two youngest children. It had been 15 years since I last saw her. The reunion was joyful, and I had hoped it would lead to more family gatherings.

She was set to regain her right to travel abroad, as the terms of her pardon would expire in October. However, in June, she was arrested again. The charges are rather vague but seem designed to associate her with others in her political party who are facing similar accusations. Currently, she’s on trial with nine others, all accused of conspiring against the state simply for engaging in peaceful discussions, reading critical literature, and participating in online courses on non-violent resistance.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called their circumstances unlawful and has urged for their immediate release. This marks the second time my mother has faced repercussions for advocating peace, human rights, and democracy, which has taken a significant toll on our family.

Even so, we stand firm in our belief in her mission for justice and freedom. My mother poses no threat to peace; rather, she exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated and passionate citizen. Her efforts have garnered international recognition for her commitment to human rights.

We haven’t communicated since the night authorities came to take her from our home in Kigali. Every day she remains detained raises concerns for her health and safety, based on her previous experiences and reports of torture in Rwandan prisons.

Our father, who has been apart from her for 16 years, is seriously ill in the Netherlands. If she isn’t released soon, they might never see each other again. This situation transcends politics—it’s a deeply human issue.

So, I’m making a heartfelt appeal to Trump: please raise my mother’s case with Kagame. Trump has shown a commitment to advocating for the freedom of those wrongfully imprisoned, as demonstrated by his efforts to secure the release of political prisoners in Venezuela. I urge him to continue that momentum and help bring my mother home.

When Kagame visits Washington, I hope Trump will urge him to free individuals like my mother, who are imprisoned for peaceful dissent. That action could transform my family’s life, allowing my mother the chance to meet her American granddaughter.

By doing this, Trump wouldn’t just change our family story, but he would also send a powerful message about America’s role as a champion of free speech and democratic values worldwide.