Rwanda opposition leader says she was barred from traveling

A prominent Rwandan opposition leader said Friday that authorities barred her from leaving the East African nation this week to receive a human rights award in Spain.

“I wrote a letter to the minister of justice requesting permission to travel but the minister didn’t reply as usual. It’s unfortunate,” Victoire Ingabire told The Associated Press.

Ingabire’s children accepted the award on her behalf Thursday from the Human Rights Association of Spain.

There was no immediate comment from Rwanda's government.