Early this week, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a France-based organization, that claims to advocate media freedom, released another of its political statements on Rwanda.

In the report, RSF once again targeted Rwanda for a campaign that it has relentlessly pursued for the last 17 years.

For Reporters Without Borders, it was a foregone conclusion, even before the report was released, that it was not going to be objective since their researchers do not bother to check the facts on the ground. RSF has its own template on Rwanda, and it is not about to change it any time

Rwanda has been a long time target of this group and no matter what changes and reforms are effected in the media sector, Rwandans should not expect RSF to change its own mindset. Otherwise, if the group had been sincere, they would have checked with journalists working in the country to appreciate the reforms and tremendous achievements that have been registered in the Rwandan media landscape.

The government has continuously strived to make the working environment for journalists better by the day. Recently, the cabinet approved a media self-regulation policy, and the media law is under review. Access to information legislation is in the pipeline.

All these are reforms that have led to a visibly media friendly environment, a progress greatly appreciated by media practitioners in the country. RSF has had its own political agenda in Rwanda and nobody should expect that to change anytime soon

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