Rwanda is the first African country to organize the World Cycling World Cup from Sunday. According to human rights organizations, President Paul Kagame uses the sporting event to polish the image of his authoritarian regime. “Rwanda is not a place for a World Cup.”
Tom Dumoulin and Bram Tankink posted a series of beautiful photos from Rwanda on their Instagram page last week. The former riders cycled through beautiful landscapes, visited the Volcanoes National Park and saw a mess of wild gorillas in their natural living environment.
That is the image that Visit Rwanda, the well -funded tourism agency of the Rwandan government, wants to show the (Western) world during the world championships in the coming week.
The first World Cycling World Championship in Africa fits in a trend from Sportswashing through the Kagame regime. According to Amnesty International, that term is used as countries “use major sporting events to divert attention from human rights violations and to improve international reputation”.
Sportswashing works, says research journalist Anneke Verbraeken. She has been to Rwanda several times and writes a lot about the country. “With the help of sport, Kagame rubs a beautiful layer of varnish over his country. And thus gives countries and companies the chance to look the other way,” says Verbraeken.
“Rwanda is also beautiful, with fantastic nature and nice people. But it is also a country where the most terrible things happen. And nobody dares to tell something about it, because then they end up in prison.”
Rwanda also intimidates foreign journalists
The 67-year-old Kagame has been president of Rwanda since 2000. Last year he was re -elected for the third time, with 99.18 percent of the votes. They were not a democratic elections. According to Human Rights Watch, independent media and opposition parties cannot operate freely in the East African country.
This year, the human rights organization listed even more abuses in Rwanda in a report. People who are critical of the regime are intimidated, disappear or die in a suspicious way. Prisoners are tortured.
In addition, there is evidence that the Rwandan government provides military support to the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And that the Rwandan army may have committed war crimes in the neighboring country.
Verbraeken has written many critical stories about Rwanda and can talk about the intimidation from the Kagame regime. “In the Netherlands I got on the street several times by a black gentleman I didn’t know and hissed in the passing:” We’ll get you. ” In Rwanda I was shadowed on my way to my hotel and my hotel room was searched. “
For residents of the country, freedom restrictions are even more intense, says Verbraeken. “They call that the system of the ten houses. In every tenth house there is a representative of the RPF (the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the party of Kagame, ed.), Who ensures that people don’t get any strange visitors or criticize the regime. Rwanda is a very strictly controlled country and therefore should not be a place for a WK.”
UCI boss Lappartient promised World Cup in Africa
President David Lappartient of the International Cycling Union UCI thinks differently. A long -held wish will be released for the Frenchman on Sunday. In 2017, around his first election as UCI boss, he already said that he wanted to bring the World Cup to Africa for the first time. Now that milestone also coincides with the 125-year anniversary of the UCI.
At the presentation of the World Cup course in Rwanda, a year ago in Zurich, Lappartient thanked President Kagame in his speech. “We support his vision to promote unity and peace through sport,” he said.
Moments later, in a conversation with three Dutch journalists, Lappartient Rwanda called “one of the safest countries in Africa” and “The cycling country of the continent”. According to the UCI president, “everyone is welcome in Rwanda” and Kagame is “a strong leader”. “We always look at human rights. But we are politically neutral and see Rwanda as a perfect location to cycle in.”
Verbraeken endorses that Rwanda will be a safe country for the participating cyclists. “There is a huge army ready. There is no one who will get his head to do something wrong during the World Cup,” says the investigative journalist.
“But we will not see what happens in the Rwandan villages when the riders have left again. That is how repression works. It is invisible.”
Opposition leader is in prison
The Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire was picked up again last June. The arrest of Ingabire, who lived in the Netherlands for sixteen years as a political refugee, was immediately convicted by human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch called it a political process.
Journalist Anneke Verbraeken has known Ingabire for seventeen years. She has not been able to have contact with her since June. “She can only talk to her lawyer,” says Verbraeken. “There are two cell mates specially selected to keep an eye on her. The chance that she will be released soon is zero.”
From Sunday, Rwanda Will Be the First African Country to Host the World Cycling Championships. Accordance to Human Rights Organizations, President Paul Kagame is Using the Sporting Event to Polish The Image of his Authoritarian Regime. “Rwanda is not a place for a world cup.”
Tom Dumoulin and Bram Tankink Posted a Series of Beautiful Photos From Rwanda On Their Instagram Page Last Week. The Former Cyclists Cycled Through Beautiful Landscapes, Visited the Volcanoes National Park and Saw a Troop of Wild Gorillas in Their Natural Habitat.
That is the image that visit rwanda, the well-founded tourism agency of the rwandan government, hug to show to the (western) world dareing the world championships next week.
The First World Cycling Championships in Africa Fit Into A Long-standing Trend of Sportswashing by the Kagame Regime. Accordance to Amnesty International, This Term is Used When Countries “use Major Sporting Events to Divert Attention from Human Rights Violations and to Improve Their International Reputation”.
Sportswashing Works, Says Investigative Journalist Anneke Verbraeken. She Has Been To Rwanda Several Times and Writes A Lot About the Country. “Kagame is Using Sport to Apply a Beautiful Layer of Varnish to his Country. And Gives Countries and Companies The Opportunity to Look The Other Way,” Says Verbraeken.
“Rwanda is also beautiful, with fantastic nature and nice people. But it is also a country where the most terrible things happen. And no one dar to say anything about it, because then end up in prisonon.”
Rwanda also Intimidates Foreign Journalists
The 67-Year-old Kagame Has Been President of Rwanda Since 2000. Last year he was re-elected for the third time, with 99.18 percent of the vote. These were not democratic elections. Accordance to Human Rights Watch, Independent Media and Opposition Parties Cannot Operate Freely in the East African Country.
The Human Rights Organization List Even More Abuses in Rwanda in a Report This Year. People who are critical of the regime are intimidated, disappear or that in Suspicious Ways. Prisoners are tortured.
In Addition, there is evidence that the Rwandan Government, Providing Military Support to the M23 Rebel Group in the Democratic Republic of Congo is. And that the Rwandan Army May Have Committed War Crimes in the Neighboring Country.
Verbraeken Has Written Many Critical Stories About Rwanda and Can Talk About the Intimidation From The Kagame Regime. “In The Netherlands, I have bone run about on the street several times by a black man I did’s know, who hissed in passing:” We’ll get you. ” In Rwanda I, Shadowed was on the way to my hotel and my hotel room was searched. “
For Residents of the Country, The Restrictions on Freedom Are Even More Severe, Says Verbraeken. “They call it the system of ten houses. In every tenth house there is a representative of the rpf (The Rwandan Patriotic Front, Kagame’s Party, ed.), Who Ensures That People Do Not Receive Strange Visitors or critic and Rwhouand. Not be a place for a world cup. “
UCI Boss Lappartient Promised World Cup in Africa
President David Lappartient of the International Cycling Union UCI Thinks Differently About this. For the Frenchman, a long-cherished wish Will come true on Sunday. In 2017, Around His First Election as UCI BOSS, HE Already stateed that he wanted to Bring the World Cup to Africa for the First Time. Now that milestone also coincides with the 125th anniversary of the uci.
At the presentation of the world cup course in Rwanda, a year ago in Zurich, Lappartient Thanked President Kagame in His Speech. “We support his vision to promote unity and peace through sport,” he said.
Later, in A Conversation with Three Dutch journalists, Lappartient Called Rwanda “One of the Safest Countries in Africa” and “The Cycling Country of the Continent”. Accordance to the UCI President, “Everyone is Welcome in Rwanda” and Kagame is “A Strong Leader”. “We always look at human rights. But we are politically neutral and see rwanda as a perfect location for cycling.”
Verbraeken agrees that rwanda will be a safe country for the participating cyclists. “There is a huge army ready. No one will get it into their head to do anything wrong duration the world cup,” Says the investigative journalist.
“But we won wel what happens in the rwandan villages when the riders have left again. That’s how repression works. It’s invisible.”
Opposition Leader is in Prison
Rwandan Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire was Arrested Again Last June. The judgment of ingabire, who lived in the Netherlands as a political refugee for sixteen years, was immediately condemned by Human Rights Organizations. Human Rights Watch Called It A Political Trial.
Journalist Anneke Verbraeken Has Known Ingabire for Seventeen Years. She has not leg able to contact her seince June. “She is only allowed to speak to her lawyer,” Says Verbraeken. “There are two cellmates special selected to keep an eye on. The chance that she will be released soon is zero.”