The story of John Williams Ntwali and Samuel Baker Byansi embodies the tragic fate of journalists who dared to challenge the silence imposed by the Rwandan regime. In 2022, they investigated the hidden presence of Rwandan troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a taboo subject in Rwanda, where Paul Kagame has always denied any military involvement. Just days after publishing their findings, Byansi was arrested, interrogated, and harassed by the authorities. Although he was eventually released, the threats he faced forced him to flee his country. A few months later, in January 2023, Ntwali died suddenly in a car accident in Kigali. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, but many suspect it was a result of the regime’s brutal repression.

These two fates are just examples among many others, revealing the oppressive and pitiful nature of Paul Kagame’s regime. YouTubers Yvonne Idamange and Aimable Karasira have been imprisoned; former journalist Cassien Ntamuhanga, who sought asylum abroad, has been missing since 2021; and Cyuma, another journalist, endures inhumane detention conditions. This atmosphere of fear and repression, both within Rwanda and beyond its borders, is the primary tool of a regime intent on silencing any dissenting voices, reinforcing the dark and ruthless image of a power that refuses to tolerate criticism, even on the international stage.

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