The Rwandan government on Saturday, May 18, said a Human Rights Watch (HRW) representative was denied entry into its territory after "misrepresenting the purpose" of her visit.

This was after HRW claimed, on Thursday, May 16, that Clémentine de Montjoye, a senior researcher in its Africa division, was denied entry at Kigali International Airport on May 13, saying she was travelling to Rwanda "for meetings with officials from foreign embassies."

"A representative of Human Rights Watch (HRW) was refused entry to Rwanda after misrepresenting the purpose of her visit to the immigration officer," the Office of the Government Spokesperson stated on Saturday.

"There has been no engagement between the Government of Rwanda and HRW for many years and no agreement that permits HRW to operate in Rwanda. As HRW has consistently fabricated reports and distorted the reality of Rwanda, they can do so without forcing visits or being present in Rwanda."