Rwanda Politics: President Kagame pardons jailed opposition leader

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01:23

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has pardoned more than a thousand prisoners, including the leader of the opposition, who's spent seven years behind bars. Our correspondent Thuli Tshabalala has more.

The highlight of Rwanda's Presidential pardon is the release of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza.

She's been in detention for close to seven years. Ingabire was arrested upon her return from exile in the Netherlands to contest the presidential election in January 2010.

She was accused of genocide denial, a serious charge in Rwanda. Ingabire would later be accused of helping to finance the banned FDLR rebel group made up of mainly Hutus.

Rwanda's government has often accused the FDLR of playing a part in the country's 1994 genocide.

But after a lengthy court case in 2012, Ingabire was found guilty of terrorism and treason and slapped with a 15 years jail term.

Human rights activists criticised the move, saying it was politically motivated. Ingabire has always denied the charges against her. Thuli Tshabalala, CGTN.