Gasamagera made these remarks during a meeting held on September 18, 2025, between Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, and members of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations.
Ingabire, the founder of DALFA-Umurinzi (an unregistered political party in Rwanda), has been in detention since June. She faces charges of attempting to undermine the government, spreading false information, and planning activities intended to incite public unrest.
Her trial was scheduled to begin on September 2, but she rejected the panel of High Court judges assigned to her case, claiming she did not trust them to deliver justice, since it was the same panel that had previously requested investigations against her in a case involving other members of DALFA-Umurinzi.
On September 11, members of the EU Parliament demanded that Ingabire and others facing similar charges be released immediately, alleging that their cases were politically motivated.
Minister Nduhungirehe described the EU Parliament's request as contemptuous, though not surprising, since it was not the first time such demands had been made while Ingabire was under detention.
'This did not surprise us,' he said. 'They demanded the immediate release of Victoire Ingabire. Their request was full of contempt. It's actually the third time: they did it in 2013, 2015, and now again in 2025.'
Gasamagera argued that the EU Parliament's action was not only disrespectful but also reflected a colonial mindset.
'It is not just arrogance,' he said, 'it is like considering Rwanda as if it were one of your provinces.'
He reminded the forum that when Victoire Ingabire was released in September 2018, it was through a presidential pardon granted by President Paul Kagame after she had admitted her wrongdoing and pledged not to reoffend. Gasamagera stressed that those now calling for her release endorsed her past actions.
'We all know what happened. We know this woman's behavior, how she asked for clemency, and how she was pardoned after committing to change. That pardon was granted because she promised not to repeat her mistakes. Those who now advocate for her are the same people who stood by her then. But for us, the unity of Rwandans is a principle that cannot be compromised or bargained away.'
Minister Nduhungirehe also highlighted that the EU lawmakers rushed to conclusions while ignoring the basic legal principle that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He noted that Ingabire has not yet gone through intensive trials, making the EU Parliament's intervention premature.
IGIHE
