Rwanda: the French prosecutor in charge of the cases of alleged genocidaires went to Kigali
The French prosecutor of the national anti-terrorism prosecution, created in 2019 and also responsible for crimes against humanity including the files of suspected genocidaires who reside in France, visited Rwanda.
The objective was to mark the cooperation between the authorities of the two countries, which has increased in recent years, and to speed up trials in France.
French anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-François Ricard speaks during a press conference in Paris on October 17, 2023. AFP - BERTRAND GUAY
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With our correspondent in Kigali,
Lucie Mouillaud
With around forty cases in progress against suspected genocidaires and French investigators regularly visiting Rwanda
,
the number of trials is increasing in France, according to Jean-François Ricard, prosecutor at the head of the French anti-terrorism prosecution, also in charge of crimes against humanity.
“
For the first time, we will have at the end of this year - not even three years - five trials at first instance with appeal trials each time.
There has been absolutely no slowdown, there is currently an acceleration of judgments
,” he explains.
Latest verdict to date: that against doctor Sosthène Munyemana, sentenced to 27 years in prison last December.
He appealed the judgment.
Read also Genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda: Sosthène Munyemana sentenced in Paris to 24 years of criminal imprisonment
Concerning the file on the widow of former president Agathe Habyarimana for her alleged role in the organization of the genocide, the prosecutor assures of his personal commitment.
“
My prosecution, on my instructions, asked the investigating judge to continue this case and for new investigations to be carried out in order to be able to verify everything that could be done and everything that can be done in this case will be done.
It is an obvious commitment that we are making and we are making it here, in Rwanda
,” he assures.
In total, in
France
, seven men have so far been convicted for their role in the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Survivors' associations denounce procedures that are too slow while, according to them, around a hundred people involved in the massacres are still present in France.
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