(Ecofin Agency) - Last September 27, Rwanda’s parliament passed a law punishing the caricaturing of “cabinet or parliament members, an official or any other person with an authoritative position in a public institution”.

Henceforth, any “humiliation” of a public authority subjects the author to a 2-year imprisonment and more than $1,000 fine.

The law sparked a strong reaction in the country, notably from media professionals who estimate that the law will complicate their daily works. Human rights organizations for their part condemn a measure that will destroy media freedom and even freedom of expression in Rwanda since the law does not state whether social media posts would also be sanctioned.

Servan Ahougnon