Ingabire is accused of forming or joining a criminal organisation, causing unrest or disturbances, undermining the established government, and disseminating false information or propaganda intended to turn foreign countries against Rwanda, among other charges.
She was detained on June 19, 2025, after the court was not satisfied with her explanations regarding her alleged involvement in training sessions attended by former DALFA-Umurinzi members. She had been summoned to their trial to provide information.
The prosecution told the court that the training sessions were intended to overthrow the government by encouraging people to oppose it. Ingabire, however, said the training had not been organised by DALFA-Umurinzi and that she was not aware of it.
The preliminary hearing was scheduled to begin in June 2026, but Ingabire raised several concerns, including restrictions on her communication with her family, which she said was important because her family would help facilitate the payment of her lawyers.
Ingabire told the court that she was not ready to stand trial because she was struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually as a result of the difficulties she had experienced. She also said she needed to meet her co-accused before she could properly prepare her defence.
She requested three months to prepare her case. The court instructed her to have her defence submissions ready by the end of July and informed the parties that the preliminary hearing would resume in September 2026.
The proceedings were then adjourned for nearly three months, partly because of the judiciary’s annual recess, which ended in September.
Ingabire returned to court on September 8, 2026, where she challenged the panel of judges hearing her case. Her objection would have required the proceedings to be postponed while another panel was constituted.
The President of the High Court found that Ingabire’s request was intended to delay the proceedings and fined her Rwf500,000.
The case is scheduled to resume on September 18, 2026.
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