Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, a prominent Rwandan opposition figure, has seen her life shattered by the persecution of Paul Kagame’s regime. In 2010, she was arrested and sentenced after a trial widely condemned as politically motivated. She spent eight years behind bars, five of which were in solitary confinement. Despite her release in 2018, her life is far from free. Victoire now lives in an “open-air prison,” stripped of her civil and political rights. She remains a prisoner in her own country, unable to leave Rwanda to reunite with her family.

The Lantos Foundation has joined a global solidarity appeal, accompanied by the hashtag #CallKagameforVictoire, to draw attention to Victoire’s plight. They are urging world leaders to include, in their congratulations to Kagame, a “call for Victoire” so that she can finally reunite with her family in Europe.

You can read the full open letter in both English and French.