'I wish to remind the European Parliament that it may have jurisdiction over Greenland, Aruba or New Caledonia but it has NO (and will NEVER have) jurisdiction over the Republic of Rwanda, which is a country that recovered its independence from European colonisation more than sixty years ago,' he said in a message posted on X January 29, 2026.
Amb. Nduhungirehe said Rwanda will not accept what he termed arrogance and interference by some European lawmakers, accusing them of acting as if they possess superior moral authority.
'Rwanda will never accept this continued arrogance and interference by European MPs, who think that they are endowed with higher moral values, to the extent that they can even disrespect the Judiciary of an African country,' he added.
The minister's remarks followed a statement published on the European Parliament's platform on January 28, after its members received Rémy Amahirwa, the son of Victoire Ingabire, who is currently detained at Nyarugenge Prison on charges including attempting to overthrow the Rwandan government.
Amahirwa was received as European lawmakers discussed the human rights situation in Rwanda, a country that is not a member of the European Union.
Earlier, on January 21, Rwanda's Minister of Justice, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Switzerland, where he outlined progress made by Rwanda in promoting and protecting human rights.
During his visit, Dr. Ugirashebuja also met Amahirwa and assured him that Rwanda's justice system operates independently and that his mother's case would be handled transparently and in accordance with the law.
Victoire Ingabire was arrested in June 2025 following investigations in which her name was repeatedly cited during the trial of former members of the unregistered political party DALFA Umurinzi and journalist Nsengimana Théoneste.
She had previously been released in September 2018 after receiving a presidential pardon from President Paul Kagame, despite having seven years remaining on a 15-year sentence for crimes including endangering the existing government.
Following her re-arrest, members of the European Parliament, on September 11, called for the unconditional release of Ingabire, Nsengimana, and former DALFA Umurinzi members, claiming their cases were politically motivated.
On September 15, Rwanda's Parliament strongly condemned the European Parliament's resolution, warning against actions that undermine Rwanda's sovereignty under the pretext of the Victoire Ingabire case.
IGIHE
