Rwanda Applauds French Court's Ruling to Maintain Life Sentence for Ex-Police Officer Linked to Genocide
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Kigali, Dec 19 (NationPress) Rwanda has expressed strong approval of the ruling against Philippe Hategekimana, also known as Biguma, a former Deputy Commander of the Gendarmerie—now the Rwanda National Police—for his involvement in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, especially in the Southern Province.
The Court of Appeal in France confirmed the life sentence for Hategekimana on Tuesday. The appeal process commenced in early November after Hategekimana, who refuted the allegations, contested the life sentence initially imposed by the Paris Assize Court in June 2023.
Jean-Damascene Bizimana, Rwanda's minister of national unity and civic engagement, remarked on X, "Justice is served for the victims of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Nyanza and the nearby regions."
Hategekimana, now 67 years old, was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. The court’s decision underlined the severe nature of his offenses, highlighting that his actions significantly contributed to the widespread massacres in Nyanza.
Erasme Ntazinda, the mayor of Nyanza District, expressed, "We are delighted with the court’s verdict that held Philippe Hategekimana accountable for his actions during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. We are pleased that justice has been served." This sentiment was echoed by other survivors who were satisfied with the Paris Court of Appeal's decision following testimonies revealing his involvement in the genocide.
In June 2023, a lower court had condemned Hategekimana to life imprisonment. He appealed this ruling, and during the appeal phase, numerous witnesses corroborated his orchestration and participation in the atrocities.
Following the genocide, Hategekimana escaped to France, where he assumed the false identity of Philippe Manier. He secured refugee status and French citizenship in 2005. He was employed as a university security guard in Rennes, a city located in northwest France, but fled to Cameroon in 2017 after facing media scrutiny and a complaint from the rights group Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda.
Hategekimana was apprehended in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, in 2018 and subsequently extradited to France. Since 2019, he has been in custody while awaiting trial.
In a related matter in October, a French court sentenced former Rwandan doctor Eugene Rwamucyo to 27 years in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide.
Approximately 1 million people—predominantly Tutsi and moderate Hutus—lost their lives during the genocide orchestrated by Hutu extremists during a 100-day massacre in 1994.
