Criminalising Peaceful Political Expression in Rwanda: The Blueprint for Revolution Case

Executive Summary

The Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights (GCRHR) presents this report examining the arrest, detention and prosecution of nine Rwandan citizens in connection with their alleged involvement in peaceful political activities, including reading and discussing Blueprint for Revolution, a book about nonviolent political action.

The case concerns eight individuals associated with the opposition group DALFA-Umurinzi and journalist Théoneste Nsengimana, who were arrested in 2021. Prosecutors relied, in part, on the acquisition of the book, participation in online training about nonviolent resistance, private communications and preparations for a political commemoration known as Ingabire Day.

In 2024, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted Opinion No. 25/2024, concluding that the detention of the nine individuals was arbitrary and recommending their immediate release, compensation and an investigation.

The report examines the charges and the government's position, the UN Working Group's findings on the legal basis for arrest, prolonged pretrial detention and the openness of proceedings, the applicable international human rights law, and the wider context of restrictions on political opposition - including the related arrest of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza in June 2025, whose detention was also found arbitrary by a separate UN opinion in 2026.

Our central concern is that no individual should be deprived of liberty merely for reading political literature, participating in peaceful civic education, expressing political opinions or associating with others who advocate nonviolent political change.

The complete report, including the chronology of events, the full legal analysis, GCRHR's recommendations and references, is available to download above.