- The publication of a reader’s letter critical to the government has resulted to a year’s jailing of a Rwandan media guru - Agnès Nkusi-Uwimana - the Director of the bi-monthly journal 'Umurabyo'.
Nkusi-Uwimana has been jailed on the charges since 12 January.
The Kigali court found her guilty of divisionism, sectarianism and libel. She was ordered to pay damages of US $760.
The State Prosecutor reportedly cajoled Nkusi-Uwimana to admit so that her jail term would be consequently reduced from five years to one year.
She has been planning to file an appeal against the ruling, although she is yet to have a lawyer.
“It is completely unacceptable that Agnès Nkusi-Uwimana should spend a year behind bars for publishing a reader’s letter,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon, protested in a statement.
“Her conviction is another troubling example of the authorities’ use of charges of sectarianism and criminal libel to silence crucial journalism. This must stop.”
CPJ said its research has proved that the charges stemmed from an unsigned letter published on 1 January that compared ethnic killings during President Paul Kagame’s Tutsi-dominated administration to those of the previous Hutu regime.
Rights defenders accused the Rwandan regime of continually hiding behind “divisionism and sectarianism” to silence its critics, including journalists.
Rwandan officials have always defended that their actions were meant to avoid a recurrence of genocide in the country. Some radio stations [hate media] were accused of fuelling the flames of the 100-day Rwandan genocide in which over 800 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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