The trial of Félicien Kabuga, alleged Rwandan genocidaire, opens in The Hague

The face of Félicien Kabuga among the main fugitives for their alleged involvement in the Rwandan genocide, at the office of the Genocide Fugitives Research Unit, in Kigali, on May 22, 2020. Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP

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2 mins

Félicien Kabuga's trial is due to begin in The Hague before the Mechanism in charge of the latest cases of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

On the eve of the trial, the accused sent a letter to the judges in which he claimed not to have confidence in his lawyer, Maître Emmanuel Altit, and refused to appear in court for the opening of his trial.

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With our correspondent in The Hague,

The heart of the prosecutor's accusations against Félicien Kabuga relate to the material, financial, logistical and moral support he allegedly provided to the Interahamwe militias. 

In April 1994, the “

” businessman, as described by the prosecutor, took refuge in Gisenyi with the dignitaries of the regime.

From there, he created the National Defense Fund, supplemented by businessmen to help rearm the Interahamwe militias. 

The Rwandan businessman is also said to have made his Kimironko residence available to the militiamen, supplying them with weapons, uniforms, ammunition and transport.

Support followed by numerous attacks in the prefecture of Kigali.   

For the prosecutor, Félicien Kabuga would also have incited the attacks of the militias by his role within the Radio-Television of the Thousand Hills, of which he chaired the management committee.

The radio stirred up hatred against the Tutsis and sometimes named the enemies to be killed. 

During today's hearing, the prosecutor will detail the charges and evidence he intends to present at trial to secure the conviction of Félicien Kabuga.

The prosecutor intends to rely on around fifty testimonies.

The Rwandan businessman faces six counts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Rwanda between April and July 1994.

Arrested in May 2020 near Paris, after 25 years on the run, his trial is eagerly awaited in Rwanda, especially by the victims.

Until the last moment, his lawyers had tried to get him to escape a trial by arguing about his state of health.

Arguments finally rejected.

But Egide Nkuranga, president of the main organization of survivors, Ibuka, fears new developments. 

He continues to flee justice as he always has.

We don't want him to die "innocent" [...]

Egide Nkuranga

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• Rwanda