A French court on December 9 convicted and fined Charles Onana, a French-Cameroonian writer, and his publishing director, Damien Serieyx, for denying the genocide committed against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The conviction by the 17th Chamber of the Paris Criminal Court was hailed as a landmark ruling and a strong message to genocide deniers worldwide. Onana and Serieyx were fined €70 per day for a period of 120 days, amounting to a total of €8,400. The court ruled that the duo must pay the full amount within 120 days. Failure to comply will result in a 120-day prison sentence.
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Reacting to the verdict, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, said: "I welcome the decision of the 17th Chamber of the Paris Criminal Court, which has just found the Cameroonian writer Charles Onana guilty of denying the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
"This landmark decision will discourage negationist journalists, writers, and politicians active in Europe and our region.”
Victory against denial
Philbert Gakwenzire, the President of Ibuka, an umbrella organization of genocide survivors’ associations, described the ruling as a significant victory for justice.
He said: "From the beginning, it was commendable for the court to accept and try this case. Throughout the trial, we observed worrying political implications, with individuals connected to the Genocide against the Tutsi supported by Onana. This conviction is a bridge to ensuring justice and accountability for those who may attempt similar crimes.”
Not the end of the battle
Gakwenzire emphasized the dual harm caused by genocide denial, especially erasing the memory, which undermines the victims, their history, and the damaging impact on future generations, as denial hampers efforts to learn from history and fight against genocide recurrence.
"This court decision serves as a form of reparation. However, much work remains to be done. While countries like France and Belgium have laws punishing denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi, many nations, particularly in Africa, lack such frameworks. We urge more countries to adopt these laws to prevent denial and foster accountability,” Gakwenzire added.
He stressed the importance of continuous education to combat genocide denial.
"This conviction is not the end of the battle. We must keep educating people to fight against denial and preserve the truth of history.”
Tom Ndahiro, a genocide researcher, welcomed the ruling, saying: "The proclamation of guilty against Charles Onana and his publisher is the best gift to humanity this year. France has long been a haven for these ‘killers of memory,’ but this ruling shows they can no longer hide. The jurisprudence is phenomenal, and I’m confident more cases will follow.”
Richard Gisagara, a lawyer representing the civil parties in the case, echoed this in a post on X: "France will no longer be a welcoming land for deniers. We will take care of it.”