Rwanda
Octavien Ngenzi
Type of liability
Personne physique
Alleged perpetrator(s)
Octavien NGENZI
Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Rwandan
Legal classification of crime(s)
Genocide
Crimes against humanity
Source of the complaint
NGO
Victim
Ongoing proceedings
non
Regime
1 - TPIY/TPIR
Summary of facts
Octavien Ngenzi was the mayor of the commune of Kabarondo, in eastern Rwanda, and local leader of the former National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MNRD) party in 1994, during the genocide against the Tutsi.
Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira, mayor of Kabarondo district before Octavien Ngenzi, were found guilty of the massacre of hundreds of Tutsis, including those who had taken refuge in a church in Kabarondo on April 13, 1994.
Legal proceedings
June 2, 2010: The CPCR files a complaint against Octavien Ngenzi with the Mamoudzou Public Prosecutor’s Office, in Mayotte.<br />
June 4, 2010: Octavien Ngenzi is arrested and detained in Mayotte. He is then transferred to Fleury-Mérogis prison.<br />
April 27, 2011: The Paris Court of Appeal rejects Rwanda’s extradition request.<br />
July 16, 2013: The Tito Barahira and Octavien Ngenzi cases are joined. 14 civil parties join the case.<br />
May 13, 2014: The Paris public prosecutor requests the committal of the case to the Paris Assize Court.<br />
May 28, 2014: The investigating judge commits the case to the Paris Assize Court for “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”. Octavien Ngenzi appeals to the Court of Cassation.<br />
January 7, 2015: The Court of Cassation dismisses the appeal.<br />
From May 10 to July 6, 2016: The trial is held before the Paris Assize Court.<br />
July 6, 2016: Tito Barahira and Octavien Ngenzi are found guilty of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” and are sentenced to life imprisonment. The defense appeals.<br />
July 6, 2018: The Paris Assize Court upholds the life sentence handed down at first instance. Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira appeal to the Court of Cassation.<br />
October 16, 2019: The Court of Cassation upholds the life sentences of Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira. The judgment is final.</p>
Complaint
Names of NGOs / Victim(s)
Survie
Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)
Court of Assizes judgment
Statement of reasons: https://francegenocidetutsi.org/BarahirwaNgenziCourAssisesMotivations6juillet2016.pdf
Court of Appeal ruling
https://francegenocidetutsi.org/ArretAssisesAppelNgenziBarahira.pdf
Statement of reasons: https://www.collectifpartiescivilesrwanda.fr/wp-content/uploads/180709-motivation-CA-Appel-Ngenzi-Barahira.pdf
Court of Cassation ruling
https://francegenocidetutsi.org/ArretCourDeCassationBarahiraNgenzi16102019.pdf
Sources
Le Monde, « Deux ex-maires rwandais condamnés en appel à perpétuité pour génocide », 2018
Survie, "Nos actions judiciaires concernant le génocide des Tutsis au Rwanda", 2019