FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Foreign Government Falsely Labels American Pastor Coleman as a Terrorist
October 28, 2025 — Colorado, USA.
The Government of Rwanda has taken a new and alarming step in the criminalization of free thought. In an official statement released by the Financial Intelligence Center of Rwanda, twenty-five individuals — mostly journalists, opposition figures, and human rights advocates — have been unjustly labeled as “terrorists.”
Behind the pretext of “fighting terrorism financing,” this measure illustrates the dangerous confusion deliberately maintained between legitimate dissent and violent extremism. The message is clear: in Rwanda, to question the government is to be branded an enemy of the state.
Among those targeted is Reverend Christine Coleman, a Colorado-based pastor of Rwandan origin, who has lived in the United States for nearly three decades. She is a U.S. citizen, a spiritual leader, and a tireless advocate for peace, compassion, and human dignity.
For over twenty years, Rev. Coleman has dedicated her life to serving others through her Blazing Holy Fire Ministries — helping widows, orphans, and victims of war; promoting reconciliation; and praying for healing across nations. She has openly condemned human rights abuses in Rwanda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions have died and countless women have been raped, according to multiple UN reports.
“In retaliation, the Rwandan government has wrongfully labeled me as a terrorist,” says Rev. Coleman. “This accusation is fabricated, politically motivated, and an attack on my freedom of speech. My mission has always been one of prayer, peace, and humanity — never violence.”
The Real Consequences of a False “Terrorist” Label
Being designated as a “terrorist” by Rwanda’s Financial Intelligence Center (FIC) has devastating consequences. It places innocent individuals on international watchlists, exposes them to frozen bank accounts, restricted travel, online harassment, and loss of professional opportunities, and unjustly tarnishes their reputation before the global community.
For activists, journalists, and religious leaders, this label often acts as a digital death sentence — an attempt to erase their credibility, isolate them socially, and silence their voices through fear. It is not only an assault on their dignity but also a violation of fundamental human rights protected under U.S. and international law.
A Foreign Government’s Attack on a U.S. Citizen — on U.S. Soil
This designation is part of a broader pattern of transnational repression orchestrated by the Rwandan regime, targeting members of the diaspora and critics abroad — including U.S. citizens. From illegal surveillance to intimidation and politically motivated kidnappings such as that of Paul Rusesabagina, Kigali has repeatedly shown its willingness to silence dissent beyond its borders.
By labeling a peaceful American pastor a terrorist, Rwanda is not only violating fundamental rights but also infringing upon U.S. sovereignty. This is more than a political disagreement — it is an act of intimidation against a citizen exercising her constitutional rights.
A Regime Attacking Democracy While Committing Crimes Next Door
It is deeply troubling that Kigali is targeting defenders of democracy and human rights at the very moment when, per UN reports, its troops are accused of committing crimes against humanity in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
While President Donald J. Trump continues to multiply his efforts for peace and stability around the world — including in the Great Lakes region of Africa, the Rwandan government is accused of persisting in violating regional peace accords by supporting armed groups such as M23 and RED Tabara, responsible for massacres of innocent civilians in eastern DRC and cross-border attacks in Burundi.
Such contradictions expose the regime’s true priorities: silencing critics abroad while fueling chaos and instability in the region. It is a double injustice — against both the people of the Great Lakes and the values of democracy that America stands for.
When Criticism Becomes a Crime
Under the guise of “national security,” the Rwandan government continues to expand its war from the battlefield to the realm of ideas — targeting journalists, pastors, and human rights defenders alike. This growing authoritarian drift raises a troubling question.
A Call to the U.S. Government
The time has come for U.S. authorities to take a firm stand against these acts of political intimidation and defamation directed at American citizens by a foreign government.
The United States must not allow Paul Kagame’s regime to distract or divert attention from its ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region.
We therefore urge the U.S. Congress, the State Department, and all relevant agencies to:
• Investigate these acts of transnational repression,
• Hold accountable those responsible for the intimidation and defamation of U.S. citizens, and
• Ensure that no American citizen is ever targeted or threatened by a foreign regime for exercising their right to free speech and conscience.
America must remain a safe haven for justice, truth, and freedom — not a hunting ground for authoritarian governments.
Christine Coleman 
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