Rwanda National Police have announced they’re stepping up monitoring of public conduct, both in physical spaces and on social media, including TikTok, as authorities move to curb behavior they say runs counter to the country’s values and expected standards of conduct.
Rwanda National Police Spokesperson, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, said the crackdown will extend to TikTok Live and other online platforms where people showcase or broadcast their activities.
He made the comments during a joint press briefing alongside Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) Spokesperson, Dr. Thierry B. Murangira. During the briefing, both institutions presented individuals suspected of links to alcohol manufacturers that had been shut down for producing and selling substandard drinks.
Rutikanga said police will monitor conduct both offline and on social media, including TikTok Live activity.
“We’ll be starting on social media too. TikTok Live… Some people think we can’t see them. We’re watching, and we do see them,” he said.
He said authorities will monitor people who appear nude or engage in other conduct considered indecent, whether in public or on social media.
The warning comes amid growing concern over behavior at bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues. Heavy drinking has been identified as one factor that can lead to indecent public conduct, including cases of public nudity.
Rutikanga also pushed back on the idea that such behavior should be tolerated as simply a shift in youth culture.
“We won’t allow people to misbehave because of what’s called being ‘lit,’ and then have it dismissed as just how young people are these days,” he said.
He said bar and nightclub owners will also be held accountable for conduct occurring on their premises or at their events.
“Those running bars, nightclubs… the misconduct that happens on those premises will also be their responsibility,” Rutikanga said.
He said police will work with event organizers and DJs to prevent indecent conduct during concerts and other entertainment events.
Rutikanga also dismissed the idea that Rwanda should tolerate entertainment involving extreme or embarrassing acts in the name of making nightlife more exciting.
He said people looking for venues to engage in that kind of conduct are free to leave Rwanda and go elsewhere, but that such activities will not be permitted within the country.
Rutikanga’s remarks came as authorities were presenting individuals suspected of involvement in the production of substandard alcohol. The Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority has shut down more than 140 alcohol-producing companies and facilities, after their products were found not to meet required safety and quality standards.
The crackdown followed a serious public health crisis, in which substandard alcohol was linked to at least 50 deaths, around 100 cases of blindness, and more than 500 people seeking medical treatment.
The link between heavy drinking and public conduct has become increasingly visible within Rwanda’s broader efforts to curb alcohol use that harms public health and wellbeing. Authorities said excessive drinking doesn’t just cause serious health problems, it can also fuel disorder, family conflict, and other harmful behavior.
Rutikanga’s comments suggest this monitoring effort may extend further online, with authorities saying they are tracking activity on social media and livestreams, as well as conduct in public spaces.
He did not say that all revealing clothing or all forms of entertainment that spark public debate would be treated as criminal. His warning was directed specifically at conduct authorities consider indecent, disruptive to others, or unlawful, whether occurring in public spaces or on social media.
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