Ekeomah Atuonwu
The organizer of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing contestants, according to authorities.
The arrest of Dieudonné Ishimwe, the CEO of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up, the company that organizes the contest, comes just a month after this year’s event.
Mr Ishimwe is yet to respond to the allegations leveled against him.
The Miss Rwanda pageant is one of Rwanda’s most popular events and AEM had reported that Miss Rwanda 2022 in March
According to an employee of the organizing company, four girls who competed last year and this year filed complaints with investigators prior to his arrest.
According to local media, a state investigator stated that MrIshimwe “is suspected of sexual abuse against Miss Rwanda contestants on multiple occasions.”
In Rwanda, inducing sex acts “by force, threats, trickery, or the use of authority over that person” is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Last week, the winner of Miss Rwanda 2019 resigned as the spokesperson for Rwanda Inspiration Back Up.
