Thread by @CPJAfrica

As Commonwealth leaders meet in #Rwanda, at least 7 journalists remain jailed for their work in the country.

Is press freedom on the #CHOGM2022 agenda?

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

cpj.org/data/imprisone…

Ahead of the meeting, @pressfreedom and 23 other civil society organizations wrote to Commonwealth Heads of Government and expressed “grave concerns” about the human rights situation in #Rwanda.

@HRW @commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022 hrw.org/news/2022/06/1…

Will leaders at #CHOGM22 raise the ongoing detention of journalist Aimable Karasira Uzaramba, who authorities in #Rwanda arrested on May 31, 2021?

Read his story: cpj.org/data/people/ai…

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

"The prison staff tell us they will kill us after CHOGM."

Days before #CHOGM22, @hrw reported that Karasira told a Rwandan court of his mistreatment in detention: hrw.org/news/2022/06/1…

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

Will leaders at #CHOGM22 raise the detention of 3 journalists jailed in #Rwanda since October 2018?

- Damascene Mutuyimana: cpj.org/data/people/da…
- Shadrack Niyonsenga: cpj.org/data/people/sh…
- Jean Baptiste Nshimiyimana: cpj.org/data/people/je…

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

Freelance journalist Phocas Ndayizera has also remained behind bars in Rwanda since November 21, 2018. In May 2021, he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison: cpj.org/data/people/ph…

Will officials at #CHOGM22 raise his case?

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

Will leaders at #CHOGM22 raise the ongoing detention of journalist Dieudonné Niyonsenga, who also goes by Hassan Cyuma?

He is serving a 7-year prison sentence, which began in November 2021: cpj.org/data/people/di…

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

Will leaders at #CHOGM22 raise the ongoing detention of journalist Théoneste Nsengimana?

Security forces in #Rwanda arrested him in October 2021.

Read his story: cpj.org/data/people/th…

@commonwealthsec @CHOGM2022

To make matters worse, @commonwealthsec denied accreditation to at least 2 journalists seeking to cover #CHOGM22.

@benmoran and @anjansun have both reported critically on the Rwandan government.

There should be "unfettered access," @angelaquintal said.

cpj.org/2022/06/common…