Paris court sentences Rwandan ex-doctor for genocide involvement

Eugene Rwamucyo’s trial was the eighth in France surrounding the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where 800,000 predominantly Tutsi people were slaughtered, primarily by Hutu aggressors.

Three decades after the 100-day massacre, former doctor Eugène Rwamucyo, 65, was found guilty of “complicity in genocide,” “complicity in crimes against humanity” and “conspiracy” to make provisions for such crimes.

On Wednesday Rwamucyo, who moved to France and Belgium to practice medicine after leaving Rwanda, was sentenced to 27 years in jail.

He was however, acquitted of the additional charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” with prosecutor Nicolas Peron citing no evidence he personally committed acts of torture or summary executions. 

Rwamucyo has denied all wrongdoing, and his legal team intends to appeal the decision according to local media.

His sentencing follows that of former Rwandan gynecologist Sosthene Munyemana in December 2023 under similar cirumstances.

Many of those who witnessed Mr Rwamicyo’s crimes had travelled to Paris for the month-long trial.

Those who arrived to seek justice described horrific scenes of mass graves and the injured being buried alive.

According to the prosecution, who had asked for a jail sentence of 30 years, the defendant was heavily involved in the supervision of such burial operations.

Angélique Uwamahoro was one of those in attendance seeking justice for victims of the genocide, many of whom have called for a life sentence to be handed down to Rwamicyo.

Speaking to the Associated Press Uwamahoro described how she saw the then-doctor when she was 13, at the scene of a massacre in a convent where the family had sought refuge from attackers. 

“He wanted to incite them to kill us so we don’t get out alive,” she said, describing how the family later saw him near the town of Butare inciting violence against the Tutsi people. 

Rwamucyo has continued to deny any wrongdoing since his arrest in 2010 in a Parisian suburb whilst attending the funeral of alleged genocide mastermind Jean Bosco Baravagwiza.

He has denied any instances of live burials, stating that his involvement was merely to mitigate any hygiene related issues that may have arisen if the bodies were left out in the open.

Prior to the verdict Rwamucyo reiterated that he was not directly involved in any killing, saying:  “I assure you that I did not order the killing of survivors or allow survivors to be killed,” 

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His lawyers argued he was being unfairly prosecuted for his disapproval of the current Rwandan government.

Emmanuel Daoud, a lawyer for LDH and FIDH, who are among the human rights organisations calling for justice said: “He was openly anti-Tutsi and publicly expressed his support for the genocidal government,”.

In 2009 the former doctor had been sentenced to life in absentia in Rwanda and an international arrest warrant issued. However, French authorities had ruled against a Rwandan extradition request.

Additional sources • AP