Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.A Rwandan court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by a prominent opposition figure to have his previous convictions removed, disqualifying him from challenging President Paul Kagame in July elections.
A three-judge panel ruled against Ntaganda, based on what it said was his failure to pay court fees of almost 106 000 Rwandan francs related to the previous case against him. “The high court finds that Ntaganda did not abide by the laws that require individuals to request their conviction to be removed, and therefore rejects his appeal.”
In March, a court also refused to remove previous convictions against staunch Kagame opponent Victoire Ingabire, rendering her ineligible to run in July. Last week, Diane Rwigara, another Kagame critic, announced she would stand this year after being barred from the 2017 race over accusations that she forged the signatures of supporters for her application. She was arrested and charged with forgery and inciting insurrection, and held behind bars for more than a year.