KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — A critic of Rwanda's president says she is in jail because she tried to run against the longtime president.

Diane Rwigara, who has been charged with inciting insurrection against the state and forgery, spoke out in a courtroom in the capital Kigali Monday.

She said she is criminally charged "because I spoke about crimes committed by this government. Nobody has talked about Rwandans who disappear without trace."

Rwigara was disqualified from running in the Aug. 4 election over allegations she forged some of the signatures on her nomination papers. She denied that allegation.

Rwanda has won praise for its advances in economic growth since the 1994 genocide, but critics say President Paul Kagame who tolerates little criticism. Kagame won re-election this year with over 98 percent of the vote.