Appeal Court Upholds 14-Year Prison Sentence for Franco-Rwandan Man for Complicity in Tutsi Genocide

The Paris Court of Appeal has confirmed a 14-year prison sentence for Claude Muhayimana, a Frenchman of Rwandan origin, for complicity in the Tutsi genocide in 1994. This decision concludes the appeal process, which was initiated after the 62-year-old man was convicted by a court of first instance in April of last year. The charges relate to Muhayimana's actions between April 7 and 14, 1994, in the Kibuye prefecture, in western Rwanda. The Rwandan genocide, which erupted after the shooting down of an airplane carrying the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi on April 6, 1994, led to the extermination of Tutsis by Hutu extremists. The massacres, often carried out using machetes, were coordinated by authorities, the military, and the Interahamwe militia. After the genocide ended in July 1994, trials aimed at holding perpetrators accountable were conducted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and national courts (gacaca). According to the court's findings, Claude Muhayimana, who was a truck driver for a transport company at the time, actively facilitated the massacres. His truck was used to transport armed members of the Interahamwe militia and their weapons, including machetes, between the towns of Mabanza, Gishyita, and Gisovu. The court ruled that his actions were crucial for the perpetrators' mobility. Furthermore, Muhayimana was found to have directly participated in at least two specific massacres – at a local school and near Lake Kivu – where he helped set up roadblocks, preventing victims from escaping. „Son véhicule a constitué un outil logistique essentiel pour les escadrons Interahamwe, leur permettant de se déplacer rapidement et de transporter des armes à travers la Kibuye, contribuant ainsi à l’efficacité des opérations d’extermination.” (His vehicle constituted an essential logistical tool for the Interahamwe squads, allowing them to move quickly and transport weapons across Kibuye, thus contributing to the efficiency of the extermination operations.) — Paris Court of Appeal The legal path to this verdict was long. Claude Muhayimana was arrested in France in 2016, based on an international arrest warrant issued by Rwanda. His trial before Parisian courts, conducted under the principle of universal jurisdiction, began in 2021. In April 2025, the court of first instance issued a guilty verdict, which now, after the defense's appeal was rejected, has become final. The defense argued that the evidence was insufficient and based on witness testimonies from many years ago, but the court deemed them credible and consistent. The Muhayimana case is part of a broader trend of international prosecution of individuals suspected of involvement in the Rwandan genocide. In France, which has a large Rwandan diaspora, several such trials have already taken place. The verdict has been welcomed as an important signal by organizations representing victims and by authorities in Kigali, who have been demanding justice for victims for decades. It also highlights the challenges facing the justice system: the passage of time makes gathering evidence difficult, and witness testimonies are sometimes challenged. Nevertheless, the Paris court's decision underscores that responsibility for crimes against humanity does not expire, and international judicial cooperation remains a key tool in the fight against impunity.