Rwanda
Editor of 'Rwanda Herald' deported to Uganda

afrol News, 21 May - Asuman Bisiika, the editor of the independent, privately-owned 'Rwanda Herald' was deported by Rwandan authorities on Sunday. Bisiika, a Ugandan citizen, reportedly had published articles critical of the Kigali government. 

According to information gathered by the French media watchdogs Reporters sans Frontières (RSF), Asuman Bisiika, editor of the 'Rwanda Herald', was escorted to the Ugandan border on 19 May by Rwandan police. The journalist was given 10 minutes to collect his belongings before being handed over to Ugandan border guards.

The independent 'Rwanda Herald' had been particularly critical of the Rwandan authorities in recent weeks, notably publishing a number of articles concerning the arrest of Pasteur Bizimungu, the former President of the Republic, who is currently in prison in Kigali, accused of threatening state security and inciting racial hatred. Just a few days before the editor was arrested, the 'Rwanda Herald' had also published an article criticising Rwanda's immigration policy. 

RSF in a statement published today strongly condemned Bisiika's deportation. The group had written a protest letter to Rwanda's Interior Minister, Jean de Dieu Ntiruhungwa, condemning this decision. "According to numerous local observers, this deportation is linked to the Rwanda Herald's publication of articles critical of the regime in Kigali. We would like the Rwandan authorities to clarify this," said Robert Ménard, Secretary-General of the watchdog group. 

Ménard doubted the legality of the step taken. "This journalist has been living in Rwanda since 1994 and we do not understand why he has suddenly been deported, for no apparent reason," he added.

RSF has been strongly concerned by the media policies of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his government for a long time. The Kigali government on the other hand claims it is on a slow but determined path towards the reestablishment of pluralism after the 1994 genocide, where almost one million Rwandans were killed after radical Hutus had established and used hatred media to initiate the killings.

Sources: Based on RSF and afrol archives

© afrol News.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com