Rwanda
Eugène Rwamucyo
Type of liability
Personne physique
Alleged perpetrator(s)
Eugène RWAMUCYO
Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Rwandan
Legal classification of crime(s)
Genocide
Crimes against humanity
Complicity in crimes against humanity
Criminal conspiracy
Source of the complaint
NGO
Ongoing proceedings
oui
Regime
1 - TPIY/TPIR
Summary of facts
Eugène Rwamucyo was the head of the sanitation department of the University Center for Public Health of the University of Butare in 1994.
He allegedly participated in meetings with leaders of the genocide in Butare, allegedly directed the mass burial operations of the bodies of Tutsi civilians during the massacres committed between April and July 1994, and allegedly ordered that the wounded be finished off.
Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
Legal proceedings
April 23, 2007: The CPCR filed a complaint with the Lille High Court.<br />
July 18, 2007: The Lille public prosecutor requested the opening of a judicial investigation. The CPCR joined the proceedings as a civil party as soon as the investigation was opened.<br />
November 8, 2007: An order relinquishing jurisdiction in favor of Paris was issued. The Lille judicial investigation was transferred to the investigating judges of the Paris Court.<br />
February 5, 2008: A judicial investigation was opened in Paris.<br />
In 2010: FIDH joined the proceedings as a civil party.<br />
May 26, 2010: Eugène Rwamucyo was arrested at the funeral of Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza in Sannois, in the Val d’Oise, and was incarcerated in Bois d’Arcy prison.<br />
September 15, 2010: The Versailles Court of Appeal refused his extradition to Rwanda and released him.<br />
September 18, 2013: Eugène Rwamucyo was indicted by the investigating judge for “participation in a conspiracy to commit the crime of genocide” and placed under judicial supervision.<br />
December 19, 2018: Closure of the judicial investigation; the final submissions of the Public Prosecutor’s Office were awaited.<br />
April 7, 2020: <span class="TextRun SCXW178726478 BCX0" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178726478 BCX0">The public prosecutor issued his final submissions</span></span>, requesting that Eugène Rwamucyo be committed for trial on charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”.<br />
October 13, 2020: The investigating judge committed the case to the Paris Assize Court for “genocide”, “crimes against humanity”, “complicity” and “criminal conspiracy for the preparation of these crimes”.<br />
In 2021: The defense and the civil parties appealed the decision committing the case to trial before the Paris court.<br />
September 28, 2022: The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the committal of Eugène Rwamucyo to the Assize Court for “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”. The Investigating Chamber of the Court of Appeal upheld, in all its provisions, the order of partial dismissal and indictment concerning Eugène Rwamucyo; he appealed to the Court of Cassation.<br />
January 11, 2023: The Court of Cassation, following a hearing on January 5, 2023, dismissed Eugène Rwamucyo’s appeal. It sent him for trial before the Assize Court for “crimes against humanity”.<br />
October 1 to 29, 2024: The trial of Eugène Rwamucyo took place before the Assize Court on charges of “participation in a group formed or an agreement established with a view to preparing a genocide and other crimes against humanity”, “genocide”, “complicity in genocide”, “crimes against humanity” and “complicity in crimes against humanity”<br />
October 30, 2024: Eugène Rwamucyo was sentenced by the Paris Assize Court to 27 years’ imprisonment for “complicity in genocide”, “participation in a conspiracy to prepare <u>g</u>enocide”, “complicity in crimes against humanity” and “participation in a conspiracy to prepare these crimes”. He was acquitted of the charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”. Eugène Rwamucyo and the Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed.<br />
June 9 to July 10, 2026: The appeal trial took place before the Paris Assize Court of Appeal.<br />
July 17, 2026: The Paris Assize Court of Appeal upheld the sentence handed down at first instance.</p>
Complaint
Names of NGOs / Victim(s)
FIDH
LDH
Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)
Court of Assizes judgment
Court of Appeal ruling
Court of Cassation ruling
Sources
CPCR, « Tableau des plaintes du CPCR »
France24, « Eugène Rwamucyo, le médecin rwandais accusé de génocide, a été interpellé », 2010
TRIAL International, « Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2022 », 2022
Survie, « Procès d'Eugene Rwamucyo, poursuivi pour crime contre l'humanité et génocide », 2024
CPCR, « Procès Eugène Rwamucyo », 2024
France 24, "Génocide des Tutsi : Eugène Rwamucyo condamné à 27 ans de réclusion en France", 2024
Trial International, "Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2026"