CPCR – Collectif des parties civiles pour le Rwanda Pour que justice soit faite
Original articles on Rwanda Justice for Genocide website :
https://rwandajustice4genocide.org.uk/eugene-rwamucyo/
Eugene Rwamucyo, 65, will finally stand in the dock at Paris Assize Court on 1 October 2024. He faces trial on charges of genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity, complicity in crimes against humanity and conspiracy to prepare genocide and other crimes against humanity – and life imprisonment if found guilty. Arrested back in 2010 after relations between France and Rwanda thawed, the subsequent wheels of French justice, even for the most serious of charges, has been disastrously slow. French Judges refused his extradition – as they have for all the dozens of accused killers that live happily in the country. There is some comfort that this particular alleged killer will now have to answer the most serious of allegations against him in the coming month.
Charges against him:
1. Participation in a group or conspiracy established with a view to the preparation of genocide and other crimes against humanity
for having, in the prefecture of Butare and on the territory of Rwanda, between April and July 1994, participated in a group or conspiracy established with a view to the preparation, characterized by one or more material facts, of the crimes defined by articles 211-1 and 212-1 of the Penal Code, in particular
by speaking publicly on May 14, 1994 at the National University of Rwanda on behalf of the Cercle des républicains, alongside Prime Minister Jean KAMBANDA, and by organizing a round-table discussion on June 22 or 23, 1994, on behalf of the Cercle des républicains and the Groupe des défenseurs de la nation,
by participating in prefectural security councils, and by taking all necessary steps to conceal and bury the mass murder of Tutsi civilians in the Butare region, in consultation with local authorities and the government.
2. Genocide
for having, between April and July 1994, in the prefecture of Butare and on the territory of Rwanda, in particular in the communes of Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ndora, in execution of a concerted plan aimed at the total or partial destruction of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, or of a group determined on the basis of any other arbitrary criterion, in this case the Tutsi ethnic group, committed or caused to be committed wilful attacks on life and serious attacks on physical or mental integrity, in this case by ordering the completion and burial of survivors during the operations to bury Tutsi civilian victims of massacres which he supervised and directed, or at least by accepting and encouraging them by his presence and position.
3. Complicity in genocide
for having, between April and July 1994, in the prefecture of Butare and on the territory of Rwanda, in particular in the cimmunes of Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ndora, and Huye, in execution of a concerted plan aimed at the total or partial destruction of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, or of a group determined on the basis of any other arbitrary criterion, in this case the Tutsi ethnic group, by aiding and abetting the perpetrators of the massacres, by organizing and directing the mass burial of Tutsi civilians, while the massacres were in progress, thus enabling the crime to continue:
– by concealing evidence of the genocide,
– by implementing the logistics of genocide.
4. Crime against humanity other than genocide
for having, between April and July 1994, in the prefecture of Butare, and on the territory of Rwanda, in particular in the communes of Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ndora, participated in a massive and systematic practice of summary executions, torture or inhuman acts, inspired by political, philosophical, racial or religious motives, and organized in execution of a concerted plan against a civilian population, in this case the Tutsi ethnic group, by organizing and directing operations for the burial of civilian victims, during which survivors were finished off or buried alive, on his instructions and under his supervision.
5. Complicity in crimes against humanity other than genocide
for having, between April and July 1994, in the prefecture of Butare, and on the territory of Kwanda, in particular in the municipalities of Ngoma, Gishamvu, Ndora, and Huye, been complicit in a massive and systematic practice of summary executions, torture or inhuman acts, inspired by political, philosophical, organized in execution of a concerted plan against a civilian population, in this case the Tutsi ethnic group, by aiding and abetting the perpetrators of the massacres by organizing and directing the mass burial of Tutsi civilians, while the massacres were in progress, and thus enabling the continuation of the crime:
– by concealing evidence of the genocide,
– by implementing the logistics of the genocide.
Eugène RWAMUCYO is the 8th Rwandan national to be tried in France for his involvement in the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. All have been found guilty. This is the 9th trial in 1st instance for crimes against humanity and torture in France, and the 7th trial in 1st instance since autumn 2021, in application of the hearing policy put in place by the national anti-terrorist package and the public prosecutor’s office at the Paris court of appeal, which aims to have two criminal cases for crimes against humanity, war crimes and misdemeanors or torture tried each year. Some sixty witnesses and experts have been summoned to appear before the Assize Court for this trial.
Background to the case
Rwamucyo also lectured at the National University of Rwanda. He is alleged to have been part of a notorious ‘war committee’ that planned the genocide against the Tutsi in Butare, killing Tutsi patients and students in the town. He is also suspected of having ordered the mass burial of Tutsis in Butare, including some victims who were still alive.
Rwamucyo fled to France after 1994. Between 2001 – 2007 he worked as a medical specialist in the country, despite having refugee status denied in 2002. In May 2008 he was employed in a city hospital in Maubeuge, northern France but was dismissed after the justice campaign group CPCR brought charges against him. In 2009 a Gacaca court in Rwanda sentenced Rwamucyo to life imprisonment in absentia for genocide.
On May 26, 2010, Rwamucyo was arrested in Sannois, north of Paris, when attending the funeral of Jean Bosco Barayagwiza, the Rwandan Hutu hate-media director, who had been convicted by the ICTR for genocide and had died in jail. A French court then ruled Rwamucyo could not be extradited to Rwanda and set him free.In 2018 French investigators finally began to look in Rwamucyo’s case and on 17 April 2020 issued an indictment.
On 28 September 2022 – 15 years after the original CPCR complaint – Rwamucyo was informed that he will face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity before the Paris Court of Assizes. His appeal was rejected. His lawyer immediately announced that he would appeal to the Supreme Court, allowing his client to gain a few more months before being tried. On 9 January 2023 news agencies reported that this final appeal had failed and Rwamucyo would face trial in the not–too–distant future.
Given the expectation of yet more judicial delays, due to two already-scheduled genocide trials and appeal hearings, Rwamucyo’s case may not be heard in 2023. A trial date is still to be announced.
Unlike Bucyibarua and Kabuga, where old age and ill health has been a factor in their detention and trial, Rwamucyo is still comparatively young and there is still a real hope by survivors that he may face justice 28 years and counting for the horrific crimes for which he is accused.
January 2023: Rwamucyo starts a gofundme campaign to raise money for his legal expenses. In his explanation for why the funds are needed, he blames the fact he a political opponent of the RPF, who have slandered him and are responsible for his legal ‘suffering’. There is, of course, no mention of the genocide, no mention of his alleged crimes and complicity in the genocide, no mention or remorse for what happened in 1994. Just blame for the survivors organisation Ibuka. As ever, he is the victim and the survivors are now cast as the persecutors in what has become a well-versed tactic of reversing the reality of the affair. The list of those who have given to his crowdfunding ‘SOS’ are mostly anonymous apart from certain well-known figures from the families of Kabuga and Bagosora. After two months, he has reached 2,6000 Euros of his 10,000 eurotarget.
