Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe has rejected accusations of political retaliation after Belgian journalist Stijn Vercruysse of Flemish broadcaster VRT was stopped from boarding a Brussels Airlines flight to Kigali for the Road World Cycling Championships.
In a strongly worded statement, Nduhungirehe said Rwanda owes no explanation to VRT or the Belgian government and instead accused the broadcaster and Vercruysse of “a crude attempt at international deception.” He claimed VRT sought accreditation for a political journalist known for “systematically hostile positions toward Rwanda” to cover what is strictly a sporting event.
The championships, organized with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), are the first of their kind on African soil and have attracted sports journalists from across the world. According to Nduhungirehe, professional accreditation normally requires an international press card and an International Association of Sports Press (AIPS) card—credentials Vercruysse does not hold.
He said VRT attempted to bypass the rules by applying for UCI accreditation through the European Broadcasting Union, despite Vercruysse’s lack of sports journalism credentials. After being denied boarding, Vercruysse told Belgian media: “We had also planned to produce a critical report on the host country, which is ultimately a very authoritarian regime.” Nduhungirehe questioned how such political intentions relate to an international cycling competition.
The minister noted that in many countries, including Belgium and the United States, misrepresenting the purpose of accreditation for major events can result in penalties far harsher than Rwanda’s decision to block entry. “Thank goodness the journalist didn’t set foot in Rwanda,” he concluded.
Rwandan officials maintain the matter is about enforcing international sports journalism standards, not suppressing press freedom.
