They say justice delayed is justice denied, but in Dr. Eugene Rwamucyo’s case, just has been served. Every trial of a genocide perpetrator is a win for the victims and survivors. The Cour d’Assises de Paris convicted and sentenced Dr. Rwamucyo to 27 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. His trial began on October 1 and concluded with a verdict on Wednesday, October 30. But definitely his story goes back as far as you can think the crimes of the genocide have been tried. Since 2006, he was on an international arrest warrant until 2010 when he was arrested in France. In 2009, Rwamucyo was handed a life jail term in absentia by a court in Rwanda, but a French court rejected extradition request. Only justice has been served now, but every justice served matters in Rwanda’s case, and Rwandans will not tire until justice is served for all those who participated in mass killings of innocent Rwandans in 1994. For the international community, Rwamucyo was accused of aiding in disseminating anti-Tutsi propaganda and of participating in mass murder in an attempt to destroy evidence of Genocide. At home, Rwamucyo wasn’t just an accused; Rwandans, in particular, survivors, knew that he deliberately participated in the Genocide that decimated more than a million innocent Rwandans. Rwamucyo conspired to commit the Genocide, Genocide crimes and crimes against humanity committed in and around Butare town in Gishamvu, Nyumba, Ngoma, and Ndora, among others. Rwamucyo is said to be the eighth Genocide perpetrator to be convicted by Genocide and crimes of Genocide against the Tutsi by French courts. There are tens and tens of genocide perpetrators still roaming freely across the streets of France, U.K., Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, and others. This should be a renewed call for countries still hosting them to listen to the cry of survivors and victims who want justice for their lost souls. For Rwandans, they think it’s an international duty to hold these people accountable.
