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Rwanda
Callixte M.
Type of liability
Personne physique
Alleged perpetrator(s)
Callixte M.
Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Rwandan
Legal classification of crime(s)
Genocide
Crimes against humanity
Source of the complaint
NGO
Ongoing proceedings
oui
Regime
1 - TPIY/TPIR
Summary of facts
Callixte M., a former United Nations employee (1992-2001), allegedly participated in the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
He is considered to be one of the main leaders, in his capacity as executive secretary of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, an armed group composed of Hutu extremist members who took refuge in the DRC following the genocide against the Tutsi.
The group allegedly committed numerous crimes in North and South Kivu in 2009.
Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
Legal proceedings
<p>In 2003: Callixte M. obtains refugee status in France.<br />
February 6, 2008: The CPCR files a complaint <span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW108719497 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW108719497 BCX0">with civil party application</span></span> for “genocide” against Callixte Mbarushimana.<br />
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">July 7, 2008: </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">Callixte</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">M.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> is arrested in Frankfurt</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> on the basis of a red notice issued by Interpol on June 25, 2008</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> as part of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">its project</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> on Rwandan genocidaires.</span><br />
March 13, 2008: A preliminary investigation is opened against Callixte M.<br />
November 4, 2008: Germany refuses to extradite Callixte M. to Rwanda. He is released.<br />
September 28, 2010: The ICC issues an international arrest warrant against Callixte M. for the crimes committed in <span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">North Kivu and South Kivu </span></span>(DRC).<br />
September 29, 2010: A judicial investigation is opened in France for acts of genocide.<br />
October 11, 2010: <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">France arrests </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">Callixte</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">M.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0"> on the basis of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">international arrest warrant issued against him by the ICC.<br />
</span>December 21, 2010: He is indicted for crimes against humanity.<br />
January 4, 2011: The Court of Cassation confirms the extradition of M. to the ICC.<br />
January 25, 2011: Callixte M. is extradited to the ICC (Netherlands).<br />
December 16, 2011: <span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">The ICC drops the proceedings on the grounds of insufficient evidence to </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">establish</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">the participation</span> </span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">of Callixte </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW96698462 BCX0">M. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">in the </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">war crimes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0"> and crimes against humanity</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0"> committed in </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">North Kivu and South Kivu (DRC)</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">.</span></span><br />
December 23, 2011: Callixte M. is released. He returns to France, where he had already been granted refugee status. The French judicial authorities place him under judicial supervision following his indictment for having participated in the genocide against the Tutsi, after the complaint filed in 2008 by the CPCR.<br />
The investigating judge gave notice of the end of the investigation, without confirming the indictment of Callixte M., pending the prosecution’s final submissions.<br />
October 1, 2024: A specialized investigating judge of the Crimes Against Humanity Unit of the Paris Judicial Court issued a dismissal order, in line with the prosecution’s submissions, after analyzing “all” the “incriminating and exculpatory evidence”. The CPCR and the FIDH appealed.<br />
May 21, 2025: The Court of Appeal orders the reopening of the judicial investigation.</p>
February 6, 2008: The CPCR files a complaint <span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW108719497 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW108719497 BCX0">with civil party application</span></span> for “genocide” against Callixte Mbarushimana.<br />
<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">July 7, 2008: </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">Callixte</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">M.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> is arrested in Frankfurt</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> on the basis of a red notice issued by Interpol on June 25, 2008</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> as part of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0">its project</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW73767800 BCX0"> on Rwandan genocidaires.</span><br />
March 13, 2008: A preliminary investigation is opened against Callixte M.<br />
November 4, 2008: Germany refuses to extradite Callixte M. to Rwanda. He is released.<br />
September 28, 2010: The ICC issues an international arrest warrant against Callixte M. for the crimes committed in <span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">North Kivu and South Kivu </span></span>(DRC).<br />
September 29, 2010: A judicial investigation is opened in France for acts of genocide.<br />
October 11, 2010: <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">France arrests </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">Callixte</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">M.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0"> on the basis of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW23721402 BCX0">international arrest warrant issued against him by the ICC.<br />
</span>December 21, 2010: He is indicted for crimes against humanity.<br />
January 4, 2011: The Court of Cassation confirms the extradition of M. to the ICC.<br />
January 25, 2011: Callixte M. is extradited to the ICC (Netherlands).<br />
December 16, 2011: <span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">The ICC drops the proceedings on the grounds of insufficient evidence to </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">establish</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">the participation</span> </span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">of Callixte </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW96698462 BCX0">M. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">in the </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">war crimes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0"> and crimes against humanity</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0"> committed in </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight MacChromeBold SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">North Kivu and South Kivu (DRC)</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0" lang="FR-FR" xml:lang="FR-FR" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW96698462 BCX0">.</span></span><br />
December 23, 2011: Callixte M. is released. He returns to France, where he had already been granted refugee status. The French judicial authorities place him under judicial supervision following his indictment for having participated in the genocide against the Tutsi, after the complaint filed in 2008 by the CPCR.<br />
The investigating judge gave notice of the end of the investigation, without confirming the indictment of Callixte M., pending the prosecution’s final submissions.<br />
October 1, 2024: A specialized investigating judge of the Crimes Against Humanity Unit of the Paris Judicial Court issued a dismissal order, in line with the prosecution’s submissions, after analyzing “all” the “incriminating and exculpatory evidence”. The CPCR and the FIDH appealed.<br />
May 21, 2025: The Court of Appeal orders the reopening of the judicial investigation.</p>
Complaint
oui
Names of NGOs / Victim(s)
CPCR
Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)
Law No. 96-432 of May 22, 1996
Court of Assizes judgment
n/a
Court of Appeal ruling
n/a
Court of Cassation ruling
n/a
Sources
CPCR, « Callixte Mbarushimana »
FIDH, « Callixte Mbarushimana mis en examen à Paris avant sa remise à la CPI », 2010
ICTJ, « Affaires le Procureur contre Callixte Mbarushimana et Sylvestre Mudacumura », 2014
Le Point, « Génocide rwandais: les enquêtes françaises, longues et sous tension », 2019
Justice Info, «L’Allemagne a remis en liberté deux rwandais recherchés par Kigali », 2008
TheNewTimes, "Genocide: France reopens Callixte Mbarushimana case", 2025