Rwandan Law No. 59/2018 of August 22, 2018, on genocide ideology and related crimes defines acts that constitute these offenses and their penalties. Citizens are urged to be aware of these laws, especially during the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Article 4 states that any public act—spoken, written, visual, or otherwise—that promotes or supports the extermination of all or part of a group based on nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion constitutes genocide ideology. Convictions carry five to seven years in prison and a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 Rwandan francs.
Other offenses include denying, minimizing, justifying, or destroying evidence related to genocide, with the same penalties.
Article 11 addresses harassment, intimidation, insults, or property destruction targeting genocide survivors, while Article 9 criminalizes theft or deliberate destruction of genocide victims’ remains and vandalism of memorials. Convictions carry 10 to 15 years in prison and fines of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 Rwandan francs.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) reported a rise in genocide ideology-related cases in 2025, increasing from 454 in 2024 to 483. During the 100-day commemoration (April 7–July 3), cases rose from 191 to 207, largely due to survivors coming forward with new information.
