Miss Rwanda boss cleared of sexual assault

The man who has run Rwanda’s national beauty pageant for more than a decade has been cleared of sexual assault charges against former contestants.

Dieudonné Ishimwe, also known as Prince Kid, was accused by multiple women of rape, soliciting or offering sexual favours, and harassment.

But on Friday, a judge at the court in Kigali ruled that the 34-year-old pageant organiser must be be released, after ruling out evidence from the accusers.

The judge said one accuser had signed a document in front of a notary confirming she hadn’t been sexually harassed, and he also dismissed audio evidence purportedly between Mr Ishimwe and some of the beauty contestants.

Prosecution lawyers were seeking a 16-year jail term for Mr Ishimwe. They have not reacted to Friday’s court ruling.

Witness statements were all delivered behind closed doors during the trial, but reporters including the BBC’s Yves Bucyana were in in the courtroom for the judgment – where some people rejoiced as the judge ordered Mr Ishimwe’s release.