Cyprien K.

Type of liability
Personne physique

Alleged perpetrator(s)
Cyprien K.

Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Rwandan

Legal classification of crime(s)
Genocide

Source of the complaint
NGO
Victim

Ongoing proceedings
oui

Regime
1 - TPIY/TPIR

Summary of facts

Lieutenant Colonel Cyprien K. was in charge of military logistics at the Rwandan Ministry of Defense. In June 1992, he was appointed Director General of Finance at MINADEF.

This officer, accused at the time of having embezzled funds, is said to have defended himself on December 26, 1994, in a letter to his minister, who was then in exile. He is said to have recounted the details of his mission, including 27 days spent in Paris, and reportedly provided details on the six deliveries of weapons and ammunition in which he reportedly participated. He reportedly wrote: “the last shipment arrived in Goma on 18/7/94 when the men had already begun crossing the border into Zaire”.

Cyprien K. was allegedly in charge of arms purchases for the genocidal camp until at least July 18, 1994 (15 weeks after the start of the massacres).

He was based at the Rwandan Embassy in Paris. Through two companies, including one French company, he allegedly purchased and delivered some 28 million French francs’ worth of weapons.

Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

Legal proceedings

In 2000: The CRF, FIDH, LDH, Survie and the CPCR filed a complaint alongside the victims. 
Between 2007 and 2008: The Cyprien K. case appeared to be progressing, the investigating judge in charge of the case having come forward to mention that she had reportedly received a CD-ROM which she needed to review. 
In 2021: Hearings were held as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. 
In August 2022: The notice of completion of the judicial investigation was issued. 
August 9, 2024: the PNAT issued its final submissions against Cyprien K., considering that he “deployed significant resources (…) to scrupulously fulfill the mission that had been entrusted to him by the Minister of Defense and to ensure the delivery of weapons that were to be used in the commission of the genocide”. The Crimes Against Humanity Unit of the Paris Judicial Court must decide whether or not to send the case to trial. 
In January 2025: The investigating judge issued a dismissal order. The PNAT appealed. 
April 8, 2025: The Investigating Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal annulled the dismissal order and ordered that Cyprien K. be placed under judicial supervision, with a ban on leaving the country.