The recommendations remarks were made as Rwandan media practitioners marked the World Press Freedom Day. The European Union ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Rwanda hailed reforms that the local media has undergone in the last two years. While the reforms on the papers look good and in theory the EU Ambassadors might think those reforms could be regarded as improvement, in practice they know it’s misleading.

Rwandan media reforms could be compared to a nice looking grave decorated with tiles and flowers on the top, but inside with a stinking smell. They have made the above praising remarks at a time when the BBC Programs in Kinyarwanda Kirundi is off the air in Rwanda because its sister radio in UK BBC Two aired a documentary exposing the role of President Kagame in the Rwanda Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

According to these Excellencies the reforms include establishment of the Rwanda Media Commission, enactment of access to information laws, and amendment of the media law. As I have mentioned above the above laws are under the custodian of the RPF cadres, every action that is taken is under the supervision of the RPF guidelines. Indeed, the conflict between the RMC and RURA on the BBC Two Documentary is a vindication of lack of independence of Rwanda Institutions and dysfunctional laws.

A joint statement issued by seven EU ambassadors and high commissioners, the states that, “The EU Heads of Mission encourage Rwanda to continue its ongoing media reforms. The new media laws introduced in 2013 showed the importance that Rwanda places in an open and vibrant media, including underlining the journalistic right of opinion and expression, self-regulation, and prohibition of censorship.”

Globally the 2015 World Press Freedom day is marked under the theme: ‘Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality and Media Safety in the Digital Age.’

On this day, according to the EU statement, we are reminded of the importance of freedom of expression as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“The Rwanda Media Commission plays a central role through its self-regulatory mechanism in the application of these reforms. Several EU member states have helped to support these advances with funding and technical know-how,” reads the statement.

It adds that, “The EU is committed to advancing freedom of expression globally, and we look forward to continue working with the Government and people of Rwanda to realize this commitment.”

According to the Journalism day Theme ‘Let Journalism Thrive! , the EU knows better than any other person  that Journalism in Rwanda is not Thriving at all, it’s under constant surveillance by the RPF government, suffocation of free press, intimidation, harassment, incarceration, murder and torture of journalists who don’t succumb to RPF reporting guidelines.

It’s a sad moment that the EU ambassadors are deliberately closing their eyes on the reality of the life journalists in Rwanda and offer to support their activities through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) without cross checking.