Rwanda opposition leader barred from election over past convictions

Victoire Ingabire, who was pardoned for terrorism and genocide denial offences, denounces court’s ‘clearly politicised’ ruling

A Rwandan court has found the opposition leader and dissident Victoire Ingabire ineligible to run in the July presidential election because of previous convictions for terrorism and genocide denial.

A fierce critic of Rwanda’s long-ruling president, Paul Kagame, Ingabire spent eight years in prison before receiving a presidential pardon in 2018 that cut short her 15-year sentence.