Belgian journalist denied entry to Rwanda amid critical reporting on World Cycling Championships

Journalist Denied Entry to Rwanda Ahead of World Cycling Championships

Belgian journalist Stijn Vercruysse, representing Flemish public broadcaster VRT, was denied entry to Rwanda while attempting to cover the World Cycling Championships. Stopped at Brussels Airport’s check-in desk, he suspects that his past critical reporting on Rwanda influenced this decision, reports 24brussels.

Vercruysse planned to travel to Rwanda on Thursday for coverage across multiple VRT NWS platforms. He had secured accreditation from the Rwandan Ministry of Sport through the UCI, the international cycling union.

“The Rwandan government has forbidden the airline from letting me board the plane,” Vercruysse stated. The rationale remains unclear, but he noted, “it is probably related to my critical reporting on Rwanda in the past. We were again planning to report critically on the host country, which is ultimately a very authoritarian regime.”

“We were again planning to report critically on the host country, which is ultimately a very authoritarian regime”

Stijn Verhaaren, editor-in-chief of VRT NWS foreign affairs, confirmed that they have sought an explanation from the Rwandan government and are consulting with both the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry. He emphasized that despite this incident, VRT NWS will continue to report critically on Rwanda in the following weeks alongside their coverage of the championships.

Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has reached out to Rwandan authorities, although the ministry has yet to receive additional clarification. “As Rwanda is the host country for this international sporting event and is also hosting the Belgian cycling team, this entails special responsibilities. However, we are waiting for further clarification before commenting on the substance of the matter,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated.

This incident is not isolated; a former VRT journalist, Peter Verlinden, has been barred from entering Rwanda for years. Vercruysse speculated, “I suspect I am now also on the blacklist.”

^{The Tour du Rwanda of 2024 © PHOTO Guillem Sartorio / AFP}