ICC: Félicien Kabuga, the alleged "financier" of the genocide in Rwanda, pleads not guilty

A poster depicting a photograph of Félicien Kabuga (illustrative image).

REUTERS / Benoit Tessier

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Félicien Kabuga, the alleged “financier” of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, appeared for the first time in The Hague on Wednesday 11 November.

The octogenarian, arrested in France last May, is being prosecuted for seven charges including genocide and complicity in genocide.

He made it known through his lawyer that he would plead not guilty.

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Félicien Kabuga does not recognize the crimes with which he is accused.

It is not a surprise.

He will therefore plead not guilty.

He was present at the hearing but only spoke briefly at the very beginning of his usual weak voice, and to confirm that he understood the language used in the hearing or at least its translation.

This initial hearing does not mean the opening of a trial, because for that, it will still be necessary to wait months.

Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and his teams are still working on updating the indictment which, as it was read at the hearing today, dates from 2011, that is to say almost 10 years.

An update is therefore necessary in order in particular to take into account the witnesses still available or not, or new elements which have since been discovered.

A health expertise in progress

The prosecutor estimated that he could complete this phase of the work by mid-January, for a trial to begin six months later.

Not before summer 2021 therefore.

It is now up to the president of the court to specify a timetable.

► To read also: Genocide in Rwanda: the underside of the hunt for Félicien Kabuga

Regarding the health of

,

still presented today by his lawyer, Me Emmanuel Altit, as tired and fragile, an in-depth expertise is underway.

But its conclusions have not yet been delivered.

It is only afterwards that his defense will be able to submit a possible request for provisional release.

And as Félicien Kabuga's lawyer said today, "

 " whether in his eyes, the octogenarian is fit or not to follow this trial.

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• International justice

• Rwanda

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Genocide in Rwanda: review of Félicien Kabuga's 23 years on the run

The alleged Rwandan genocidaire Félicien Kabuga imprisoned in The Hague