Europe 1 with AFP 6:56 a.m., September 17, 2021, modified at 6:56 a.m., September 17, 2021

Isaac Kamali, suspected of being involved in the genocide of the Tutsi, was indicted Thursday for "genocide" and "crimes against humanity", and placed under judicial control.

According to the national anti-terrorism prosecution, he disputed the facts alleged against him. 

A man born in Rwanda in 1949, suspected of being involved in the genocide of the Tutsi, was indicted Thursday by a Parisian examining magistrate in particular for "genocide" and "crimes against humanity", said the prosecution national anti-terrorism (PNAT).

Targeted by a judicial investigation opened in 2009, Isaac Kamali was placed under judicial control. 

According to the PNAT press release, which confirms information from the

Parisian

, he is accused of "his involvement in the genocide of the Tutsi committed in Rwanda in 1994, in particular within the remit of the prefecture of Gitarama".

"A suprise"

Contacted by AFP, his lawyer declined to comment. According to the PNAT, which also follows the files of crimes against humanity, he contested the facts with which he is accused during his initial examination before the examining magistrate. The septuagenarian, naturalized French, lives near Troyes, in the Aube, we learned from a source close to the file. 

"It is a surprise so much the file is old", reacted to AFP Alain Gauthier, co-founder of the Collectif des parties civiles du Rwanda (CPCR), who had lodged a complaint in February 2009 against him.

"Following the promises of Emmanuel Macron" to prosecute the genocidal refugees in France, "things will accelerate?" He asked.

"We can only rejoice at this news, even if we are far from the Assize Court".

He had remained in the sights of Rwandan justice

Isaac Kamali had been sentenced in absentia in 2003 by a Rwandan court to the death penalty, but this sentence was then "annulled" due to changes in Rwandan law, according to the complaint of the SCRC consulted by AFP.

However, he then remained in the sights of the Rwandan justice system.

In 2008, he was arrested at the Parisian airport of Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle while returning from the United States and Kigali had demanded his extradition, a request rejected by the French justice, as it did. for all suspects of participation in the genocide claimed by Rwanda.

A judicial investigation was opened in 2009 in Paris after the complaint of the CPCR.

According to the PNAT, several letters rogatory were sent to Rwanda, Mali and Benin as part of this investigation.

The investigations, carried out by the Office for the fight against crimes against humanity, genocides and war crimes (OCLCH), have resulted in several trips to Rwanda.

In its complaint, the CPCR accused this former official, who worked in particular for the Rwandan Ministry of Transport, of having participated in the murders, looting and destruction of Tutsi property and launched calls to commit various crimes during rallies.

More than 800,000 dead in the genocide

According to the UN, the genocide killed more than 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi exterminated between April and July 1994. To date, two trials linked to the genocide in Rwanda have resulted in France in the final convictions of three men.

Two other men are soon to be tried: Claude Muhayimana, a former Franco-Rwandan hotel driver accused of having transported militiamen, is due to appear from November 22 to December 17, while a former prefect, Laurent Bucyibaruta, will be tried from May 2022.