No EU Jurisdiction Over Rwanda, FM Nduhungirehe Tells European Parliament

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe has issued a strong warning to the European Parliament rejecting what he described as continued arrogance and interference in Rwanda’s internal judicial affairs, it's amid renewed discussions of the EU parliament in Brussels on the Rwanda’s human rights situation. In a statement shared on X (former Twitter) Minister Nduhungirehe reminded the European Parliament that it holds no jurisdiction over the Republic of Rwanda, stressing that the country regained its independence from Europ

Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe has issued a strong warning to the European Parliament rejecting what he described as continued arrogance and interference in Rwanda’s internal judicial affairs, it's amid renewed discussions of the EU parliament in Brussels on the Rwanda’s human rights situation. In a statement shared on X (former Twitter) Minister Nduhungirehe reminded the European Parliament that it holds no jurisdiction over the Republic of Rwanda, stressing that the country regained its independence from European colonial rule more than six decades ago. “It may have jurisdiction over Greenland, Aruba or New Caledonia, but it has NO and will NEVER have jurisdiction over the Republic of Rwanda,” Nduhungirehe wrote, underlining Rwanda’s sovereignty and political independence. The foreign minister’s remarks came in response to a post by the European Parliament’s Diplomatic Service, which announced that the Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee had revisited the human rights situation in Rwanda, including discussions surrounding the case of Victoire Ingabire. Nduhungirehe criticized European lawmakers for what he termed a persistent belief in moral superiority accusing them of openly disrespecting Rwanda’s judiciary. “Rwanda will never accept this continued arrogance and interference by European MPs, who think they are endowed with higher moral values,” he added. The minister further emphasized that Rwanda’s justice system is independent and must be respected like that of any other sovereign state, warning against external pressure that undermines African institutions.