Marie-Immaculée Ingabire dies at 63
Transparency International Rwanda (TI Rwanda) Chairperson, Marie-Immaculée Ingabire, has passed away at the age of 63, the organisation has announced.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 9, TI Rwanda said Ingabire died this morning after a period of illness.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of T.I Rwanda Chairperson, Ingabire Marie Immaculée, who passed away on the morning of 9th October 2025 after a period of illness,” the statement read.
For over three decades, Ingabire was a leading advocate for human rights, particularly women’s rights, and became a prominent voice in Rwanda’s fight against corruption. She had served as the chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda since 2007.
Born in Burundi, Ingabire studied journalism and communication and began her media career in 1994, after returning to Rwanda in the aftermath of the Genocide against the Tutsi. She worked at the then Office Rwandais d'Information (ORINFOR), now Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), describing that period as one of the most challenging of her professional life.
Beyond journalism, she also worked with several organisations championing women’s and children’s rights, including Réseau des Femmes Oeuvrant pour le Développement Rural (Réseau des Femmes), Haguruka, and Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe, an umbrella body for women’s rights organisations.
Ingabire was also a founding member of the Association of Rwandan Female Journalists (ARFEM).
