Ingabire denied allegations of organising training sessions that prosecutors allege were used to develop the plan.
She gave her testimony on Wednesday, June 19, 2025, after being summoned by the court to provide clarifications related to the case.
Prosecutors accuse the defendants of forming or joining a criminal group, conspiring to commit crimes against the state, inciting public unrest, defying the rule of law, and engaging in unlawful protest activities.
The prosecution alleges that training sessions aimed at toppling the current government were held, involving Rwandans living abroad, including a person named Assumpta, alias "Peppino", and members of DALFA-Umurinzi.
The court summoned Ingabire after her name was repeatedly mentioned in the case file.
At the start of the hearing, the judge asked Ingabire how DALFA-Umurinzi had organised the training and what role she played. She replied that the party, founded in late 2019, never organised such training for its members because it was effectively inactive at the time.
She explained that by 2020, she had ceased recruiting new members and that DALFA-Umurinzi existed for only two months.
'DALFA existed for two months. We were prohibited from recruiting members, so we stopped,' she said.
'I was surprised to hear people say training was held under the party's framework in 2021, yet we never organised any.'
When asked if she knew the accused as members of DALFA-Umurinzi, she acknowledged they were party affiliates, except for journalist Nsengimana Théoneste, with whom she had planned to collaborate on media coverage during 'Ingabire Day.'
'Journalist Nsengimana Théoneste and I were discussing a program we were supposed to do, but it had not yet taken place," Ingabire stated.
She explained that 'Ingabire Day' was an annual event with a specific theme each year, and it should not be associated with the alleged training sessions.
The judge asked her what she knew about plans to overthrow the government without using force. She responded, 'I can't speak on things I've never studied. I'd be lying.'
Her lawyer, Me Gatera Gashabana, told the court that Ingabire had no role in organising the training sessions and that there was no evidence linking her to them.
However, the prosecution argued that Ingabire and Sibomana Sylvain, a former coordinator of DALFA-Umurinzi, had discussed the training and were aware of its intent, asserting that Ingabire was monitoring the activities even though she denies any involvement.
The prosecution further said that the training sessions aimed to teach participants strategies to delegitimise the government by making citizens feel disrespected, abused, and unlawfully detained.
They added that the sessions and 'Ingabire Day' served as public mobilisation tools that could help advance the group's objective.
The court was expected to decide by 2 p.m. on June 19 whether Ingabire's explanations were sufficient to excuse her from further proceedings or if further investigation was warranted.
IGIHE
