Mayskiwisky

“Many will say about my mother, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, that she is a very capable leader. And to explain to my two sons that this is why their grandmother is held in prison in Rwanda breaks my heart.” These heartbreaking words were spoken by Raïssa Ujeneza, daughter of Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, during her speech in Washington on the International Day of Political Prisoners. Her testimony is a powerful reminder that behind every political prisoner is a family enduring separation, uncertainty, missed milestones and years that can never be recovered. @VictoireUmuhoza spent eight years in prison, including five years in solitary confinement. She missed precious moments in the lives of her husband, three children and five grandchildren. Since her re-arrest in June 2025, she has been denied the opportunity to attend church services with other prisoners. Her case has been examined by two prominent international human rights mechanisms, both of which found serious violations of her fundamental rights: - In 2017, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that Rwanda had violated her rights to freedom of expression and defence in judicial proceedings. - In 2026, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that her detention was arbitrary and called for her immediate release and reparations. Despite these findings, Victoire Ingabire remains imprisoned. Yet, despite years of persecution, imprisonment and separation from her loved ones, she remains committed to her vision of a better future for Rwanda. Raïssa concluded her speech with a moving message to her mother: “Mom, you do not stand alone.” Political imprisonment does not punish only those behind bars. Its consequences reach across families and generations. Behind every political prisoner are loved ones who also pay the price for injustice. Victoire Ingabire must be released immediately and unconditionally. #FreedomStartsWithAName #FreeVictoireIngabire #FreeThemAll #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners #FreeThem #Africa