Kenya’s Nation Media Group (NMG) is in deep legal trouble in Rwanda. One of NMG’s newspaper, The Nation, drew a Kagame cartoon. This violated Articles 233/236 of Rwanda’s Penal Code. Article 233 states: “Any person who, verbally, by gestures or threats, in writings or cartoons, humiliates…a member of the Cabinet…or any other person in charge of a public service…commits an offense.”
This crime means a two-year prison term. Artcle 236 reads: “Any person who insults or defames the President of the Republic, commits an offence.” This crime fetches a seven-year prison term and a RWF7 million or US$7,934 fine. The Nation Media Group should not let its editor set foot in Rwanda.?
