• DR Congo: US Should Urge Rwanda to End M23 Support
    Nov 20, 2012
    Press release
    The United States government should publicly support sanctions against Rwandan officials backing the armed group M23, which has been responsible for widespread war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. M23 rebels, whose commanders have been implicated in serious abuses, captured the city of Goma on November 20, 2012.
  • Rwanda: Eight-Year Sentence for Opposition Leader
    Oct 30, 2012
    Press release
    The guilty verdict on October 30, 2012, in the case of opposition party leader Victoire Ingabire is the culmination of a flawed trial that included politically motivated charges. The High Court in Kigali found her guilty of conspiracy to undermine the established government and denying the genocide, and sentenced her to eight years in prison.  
  • DR Congo: M23 Rebels Committing War Crimes
    Sep 11, 2012
    Press release
    M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are responsible for widespread war crimes, including summary executions, rapes, and forced recruitment. Thirty-three of those executed were young men and boys who tried to escape the rebels’ ranks.
  • DR Congo: Rwanda Should Stop Aiding War Crimes Suspect
    Jun 3, 2012
    Press release
    Rwandan military officials have been arming and supporting the mutiny in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of Gen. Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • ICC: Pursue Case Against Rwandan Rebel Leader
    Jun 1, 2012
    Press release
    The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should urgently submit information sought by the court in the case against a Rwandan rebel leader whose forces are still committing atrocities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 31, 2012, the ICC judges unanimously found that the request for an arrest warrant against Sylvestre Mudacumura lacked clarity and specificity, but did not rule on the merits of the case.
  • Rwanda: Opposition Leader’s Sentence Upheld
    Apr 27, 2012
    Press release
    The confirmation by the Rwandan Supreme Court of a four-year prison sentence for Bernard Ntaganda, an opposition leader, is a blow for those who had hoped the Court might protect free speech. Ntaganda, founding president of the PS-Imberakuri opposition party, is one of several government critics, including two journalists, who remain in prison solely for the legitimate expression of their views.
  • Uganda/Rwanda: Investigate Journalist’s Murder
    Dec 6, 2011
    Press release
    The Ugandan authorities should open an effective and transparent investigation into the murder of a Rwandan journalist on November 30, 2011, and identify and bring those responsible to justice. The Ugandan government should also provide protection for Rwandan journalists and other critics of the Rwandan government who are living in Uganda.
  • DR Congo: Prosecute Atrocities Exposed by UN
    Oct 10, 2011
    Press release
    Governments around the world should intensify efforts to bring to justice those responsible for grave abuses documented in the United Nations’ October 2010 “mapping report,” Human Rights Watch said today. One year after the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published the report, there has been insufficient follow-up by governments in Africa’s Great Lakes region and by the UN itself.
  • Rwanda: Stop Intimidating Regional Human Rights Group
    Aug 23, 2011
    Press release
    The Rwandan authorities should immediately stop intimidating human rights defenders and allow them to work freely.
  • Rwanda: Mixed Legacy for Community-Based Genocide Courts
    May 31, 2011
    Press release
    Rwanda’s community-based gacaca courts have helped communities confront the country’s 1994 genocide but have failed to provide credible decisions and justice in a number of cases, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. As the gacaca courts wind down their work, Rwanda should set up specialized units in the national court system to review alleged miscarriages of justice.