Kigali Court Orders DNA Test in Vestine-Idrissa Divorce Case
Photo: Internet
Vestine-Idrissa Divorce Case
Kigali, October 28, 2026 — The Kicukiro Primary Court today ordered a DNA paternity test for the child of Rwandan gospel singer Ishimwe Vestine and her Burkinabé husband, Idrissa Jean Luc Ouédraogo, and directed that Ouédraogo receive additional photographs of the child.
The ruling, delivered Wednesday at the Kicukiro Primary Court, comes in a petition filed by Ouédraogo on September 17 seeking both biological confirmation of paternity and access to the infant, who was born in Canada. Vestine, one half of the popular gospel duo Vestine & Dorcas, initiated divorce proceedings earlier in September, slightly more than a year after the couple’s wedding. The main divorce hearing remains scheduled for December 3.
According to the court, Vestine’s side agreed to the DNA testing and the provision of more photos, stating that the steps would serve the child’s best interests. Samples from the child, identified in court materials as Ishimwe Nollah, will be collected in Canada and sent to Kigali for comparison with samples from Ouédraogo. The court cited provisions of Rwandan family law and the parties’ agreement in affirming that Ouédraogo’s request had merit and that he holds rights concerning the child.
The case has drawn intense public attention in Rwanda. Vestine has alleged that she sought the divorce after discovering evidence of Ouédraogo’s relationships with two other women whom he allegedly impregnated, along with claims related to a prior family in Burkina Faso and subsequent mistreatment. Ouédraogo has denied the allegations through his lawyers and has said he does not want the marriage dissolved through divorce. He has maintained that he has never met the child since birth despite repeated requests and that unresolved questions about paternity prompted him to seek a court-ordered DNA test rather than continue the dispute in the media.
Earlier this month, proceedings on the DNA and access requests were delayed when Vestine’s lawyer failed to upload the child’s birth certificate into the court’s electronic system, resulting in a 200,000 Rwandan franc fine. A hearing on October 21 addressed remaining procedural issues before today’s decision.
The couple completed a civil marriage on January 15, 2025, at Kinyinya Sector offices and held a larger ceremony on July 5 at Intare Conference Arena in Kigali. Signs of strain first appeared publicly in November 2025, when Vestine posted a social media message expressing regret over her marriage; she later deleted it. Ouédraogo has previously stated in interviews that he entered the marriage sincerely and prefers that facts be established through proper legal channels rather than public confrontation, emphasizing that the child’s interests should remain central.
The DNA results are expected to clarify the biological relationship and related parental responsibilities as the broader divorce proceedings continue. Neither side has issued a detailed public reaction to Wednesday’s ruling.
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