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Both the YouTube channel owner and members of the opposition party were detained.
The Rwandan authorities arrested six people, including a journalist and a member of the opposition party, who were accused of publishing rumors suspected of inciting an uprising, the Bureau of Investigation said.
Thierry Murangira, spokesperson for the Rwanda Bureau of Investigation, said on Thursday that Theoneste Nsengimana, who runs Umubavu TV, was among the arrested. Umubavu TV is an online YouTube channel that often broadcasts content that criticizes the government.
He said: “They are accused of publishing rumors aimed at causing popular uprisings or unrest.”
“They have something in common. They are an organized group whose purpose is to use different social media platforms to spread rumors that are intended to cause popular uprisings or unrest.”
Nsengimana’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Tuesday, Nsengimana posted a video on his YouTube channel in which a woman urged people to celebrate “Ingabire Day” on Thursday to commemorate opposition figures who were imprisoned, kidnapped and killed.
Critics say that the Rwandan authorities have been cracking down on important YouTube channels, including those owned by former university lecturer Aimable Karasira, who was arrested in June and charged with denying the 1994 genocide. He denied the accusation.
‘Intimidation’
Other arrests include members and supporters of opposition leader Victor Ingabire.
“The members of DALFA-Umurinzi were arrested again: We ask RIB to ensure that their rights are respected. We have not been informed of the reason for their arrest,” Ingabyre wrote on Twitter.
Members of DALFA-UMURINZI were arrested again: we request @RIB_Rw Ensure their rights are respected #Rwanda #PoliticalSpaceinRwanda @omardaair @NLinRwanda @USAmbRwanda pic.twitter.com/tKcxmvoIlm
-Victoire Ingabire (@VictoireUmuhoza) October 14, 2021
“I think this is intimidation,” she told AFP. “I don’t know what the rumors were about their arrest.”
Ingabire returned from exile in 2010 to compete with current President Paul Kagame, but was arrested on terrorism charges and sentenced to 8 years in prison, which was later extended to 15 years. She was pardoned by the President in 2018.
Critics accuse the Kagame government of violating human rights, even though it has received support from Western donors to restore stability and promote economic growth in the years following the genocide.
In March, Human Rights Watch warned Kigali against people who used YouTube or blogs to comment on controversial issues in Rwanda.
Human Rights Watch said at the time that in the past year, at least eight people reporting or commenting on current affairs—especially the impact of the strict anti-coronavirus measures that crack down on the poor—have been threatened, arrested or prosecuted.
Kagame denied the allegations of abuse.
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