French Court Upholds 14-Year Prison Sentence for Claude Muhayimana for Complicity in Rwandan Genocide

The Paris Court of Appeal has upheld a 14-year prison sentence for Claude Muhayimana, a French citizen of Rwandan origin, for complicity in the genocide of the Tutsi in 1994. The decision, issued on February 27, 2026, concludes the appeal process, which was initiated after the 62-year-old man was convicted by a lower court in April of last year. The charges concern Muhayimana's actions between April 7 and 14, 1994, in the Kibuye prefecture in western Rwanda. The Rwandan genocide erupted after the shooting down of a plane carrying the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi on April 6, 1994, which became the signal for the planned extermination of the Tutsi by Hutu extremists. The massacres, often carried out using machetes, were coordinated by the authorities, the military, and the Interahamwe militia. After the genocide ended in July 1994, the criminal responsibility of the perpetrators was pursued by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and national courts, including the traditional gacaca courts. According to the court's findings, Claude Muhayimana, who was then a truck driver for a transport company, 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 found that his actions were of crucial logistical importance for the mobility of the perpetrators. Furthermore, Muhayimana was found to have been a direct participant in at least two specific massacres – at a local school and in the area of Lake Kivu – where he helped organize 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 sentence was long. Claude Muhayimana was arrested in France in 2016, based on an international arrest warrant issued by Rwanda. His trial took place in Paris under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which authorizes national courts to prosecute international crimes, regardless of where they were committed. This trial is part of a broader trend in France, where courts are increasingly hearing cases related to the Rwandan genocide, using this very principle. Previously, in 2021, a French court sentenced another French citizen of Rwandan origin, Pascal Simbikangwa, to 25 years in prison for similar crimes. The Court of Appeal's decision in the Muhayimana case is a reminder that responsibility for crimes committed over three decades ago remains current. Despite the passage of time, the justice systems in France and other countries continue efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, which has symbolic significance for survivors and victims' families. This sentence also underscores the role of logistical support in mass crimes, showing that not only direct perpetrators but also those who facilitated their actions face legal consequences.