In a major verdict, a Paris court has sentenced a former Rwandan doctor, Eugene Rwamucyo, to 27 years in prison for his role in the horrifying 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where nearly a million people were killed in just 100 days. This sentence marks the end of a long, drawn-out search for justice, as Rwamucyo had been wanted by Interpol for over a decade before his arrest in 2009.
The genocide in Rwanda was one of the most shocking mass killings of the 20th century. In just three months, extremist groups in Rwanda targeted and killed about 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis, along with some moderate Hutus. During this period, Rwamucyo was accused of playing a critical role in organizing and encouraging these killings, especially in his hometown of Butare in southern Rwanda. At the time, he was a respected doctor, but prosecutors allege he used his influence to encourage violence instead of protecting lives.
Witnesses came forward with disturbing stories about what they saw him do and say during that time. One witness, Angelique Uwamahoro, traveled from Rwanda to Paris to testify against him. She remembered seeing Rwamucyo at a roadblock in Butare, where he allegedly urged soldiers and militiamen to kill Tutsis and survivors. Uwamahoro, who was just 13 years old during the genocide, recalls feeling terrified as she overheard him trying to convince the militia to kill everyone who was trying to escape.
Rwamucyo, who is now 65 years old, was accused of doing more than just speaking out against Tutsis. Prosecutors say he was part of a “war committee” in Butare that was formed to target Tutsis and ensure that the killings were systematic. He is also accused of ordering the mass burial of Tutsi victims in an attempt to cover up the atrocities. The court found him guilty of “complicity in genocide” and “crimes against humanity,” but he was cleared of direct charges of “genocide” itself.
Throughout the trial, Rwamucyo insisted he was innocent. He stated that his actions were aimed at preventing health crises and argued that he had no role in organizing or encouraging the killings. “I did not order anyone to kill survivors,” he told the court in his final statement, pleading with them to believe he wasn’t involved in the violence. Despite his denials, the court ruled that his actions during those dark days had contributed significantly to the atrocities, and he was sentenced accordingly.
Rwamucyo’s case is the eighth genocide-related trial conducted by French authorities, as France has become a haven for several suspects who fled Rwanda after the genocide. Last year, the same court sentenced another Rwandan doctor and a former Rwandan military officer, both of whom were accused of similar crimes.
This high-profile case has once again highlighted the brutality of the 1994 genocide and the lengths that countries like France are going to bring those responsible to justice, even decades later. For the survivors and the families of the victims, the sentence represents a sense of justice finally being served.
