Long Arm of the Law
Listen to Today's Edition:
A French court this week sentenced former Rwandan doctor Eugene Rwamucyo to 27 years in prison for his involvement in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, marking the latest conviction by France for crimes linked to the ethnic violence that left hundreds of thousands dead in the African nation, Agence France-Presse reported.
Rwamucyo, 65, was convicted of complicity in genocide, complicity in crimes against humanity, and conspiring to commit those crimes. He was acquitted, however, of the direct charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
During the trial, witnesses described how Rwamucyo allegedly assisted in the cover-up of the mass killings, with some accusing him of overseeing burials where wounded individuals were buried alive, according to Euronews.
Prosecutors argued that he assisted in the mass burials to conceal evidence of genocide, while his defense team argued that his involvement was solely to prevent health risks from decomposing bodies.
The defendant, who has lived and worked in France and Belgium since fleeing Rwanda, maintained his innocence throughout the trial, saying that he “did not order the killing of survivors or allow survivors to be killed.”
His legal team announced plans to appeal.
This case is the eighth trial in France connected to the Rwandan genocide: Rwamuncyo’s case follows that of another Rwandan doctor, Sosthene Munyemana, who was sentenced last year to 24 years for his involvement in the massacre.
The Rwandan genocide, perpetrated mainly by ethnic Hutus against Tutsis, claimed the lives of an estimated 800,000 people over 100 days, leading to decades of attempts to prosecute perpetrators.
Meanwhile, France’s role in prosecuting Rwandan genocide cases is under scrutiny because of its alleged involvement in the atrocities.
Last month, survivor associations filed a landmark case at the Paris Administrative Court, alleging French complicity through defense agreements, the supplying of illegal arms, and the abandonment of civilians, reported Africanews.
Plaintiffs are seeking $540 million in reparations, with the court’s ruling expected on Nov. 14.
Subscribe today and GlobalPost will be in your inbox the next weekday morning
Join us today and pay only $32.95 for an annual subscription, or less than $3 a month for our unique insights into crucial developments on the world stage. It’s by far the best investment you can make to expand your knowledge of the world.