KIGALI, Rwanda — Drawing cartoons or producing writing that “humiliates” a government official is now a criminal offense in Rwanda, a new law says. Journalists say the law that took effect on Thursday will greatly affect work that is meant to hold public officials, including Cabinet members and security officers, to account. It was not immediately clear if the law affects people who post such writings on social media. The Rwanda Journalists Association’s executive secretary, Gonza Muganwa, said the group would seek legal interpretations and advise members accordingly. Rwanda also has decriminalized defamation in general, the result of years of advocacy by the media and dialogue with the government.

Source: Washington Post September 29, 2018 13:59 UTC