© ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP
A woman using a computer in Africa (illustrative image).
In Rwanda, the internet and social networks are now in the crosshairs of the authorities. In its latest report, published today, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the organization Human Rights Watch once once more denounces the harassment of bloggers and youtubers.
After the written press, the audio press is now the internet who is the target of the Rwandan authorities. For two years, nearly a dozen journalists, commentators, or simple bloggers have been arrested and sentenced. Like Ivonne Idamangesentenced to 15 years in prison for criticizing the government on her YouTube channel, which has nearly 19,000 subscribers, explains Lewis Mudge of Human Rights Watch.
« Ivonne Idamange began commenting on YouTube once morest Covid-19 restrictions. She said things once morest the current president, President Kagame. She even hinted that the president was dead. She said things that are considered too sensitive, but not illegal things. She was convicted of crimes, such as rebellion once morest state authorities, or incitement to revolt once morest the state. »
Disproportionate reaction
The most worrying continues the researcher, it is the disproportionate reaction of the authorities, for reports or discussions which are not always political. As sentencing blogger Dieudonné Niyonsega to seven years in prison, known as Cyuma Hassan; for breaking lockdown rules and using a fake press card while reporting.
Harsh sentences usually meted out to those deemed to pose a threat to state security. For HRW, these are frivolous prosecutions that violate freedom of expression
