The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi devastated millions of lives – not just Rwanda but the whole Great Lakes region. It will take generations to heal the deep wounds. How did such a genocide happen despite the international community knowing it was being planned – and what happened to the perpetrators afterwards as they sought to escape and deny their crimes?
In May 2023 justice finally caught up with one of the last major fugitives, former Police chief Fulgence Kayishema, who had been sought by the UN Mechanism in South Africa. However, Kayishema, his lawyers and an inept and politically-dubious Cape Town legal system have so far blocked justice and one year on the accused has still to be transferred to the Mechanism to face trial accused of killing thousands of Tutsis in 1994.
Jean-Pierre Karangwa, accused by witnesses of complicity in the killings of 30,000 Tutsi, has escaped extradition to Rwanda to face justice. The Netherlands turned down the appeal for him to be sent back to Rwanda to face trial – the question now is whether it will put him on trial for his horrific alleged crimes in their national Court. After 25 years of impunity in the country the justice clock is ticking…
Protais Zigiranyirazo, ‘Monsieur Z’ – the former prefect of Ruhengeri, and the man behind the ‘Zero Network’ died in Niamey, Niger on 3 August 2025. Seen as a lynchpin of Akazu, the mafia-like parallel network that ran Rwanda as their own private fiefdom in the years 1973-94, his life story is a tale of the search for personal greed and power whatever the cost to humanity.
Philippe Hategekimana, a former Rwandan gendarme, has been sentenced to life for genocide after an appeal lasting six weeks in Paris. Having fled to France and changed his name to ‘Manier’ the killer is behind bars after the court President noted he had been a most enthusiastic arm of the Genocide. Witnesses noted he had led massacres of Tutsi Men, women and children and set up many roadblocks to facilitate the slaughter.
Eugene Rwamucyo, 65, has been finally found guilty of inciting genocide and faces 27 years in prison after the verdict of the Assize Court in Paris following a 22 day trial. The former doctor, who fled to France, says he will appeal.
Emmanuel Nkunduwimye, 65, a close friend and supporter of the former deputy leader of the notorious Interahamwe militia, Georges Rutaganda, has been found guilty of genocide and rape, by a Brussels court after a two month trial. He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. The self-proclaimed ‘hero’s Hotel Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina, notably refused to testify in defence of his friend Nkunduwimye.
It’s UN bonanza payday-time again – the seven former ICTR detainees in living in Niger are celebrating a third $10,000 cash windfall each courtesy of the UN Mechanism ruling its ‘duty of care’ meant they were entitled to what has become an annual tax-free present, to go with free accommodation and medical care. Happy days all round for them. Another savage blow to victims and survivors of the genocide.
Two suspected genocidaire have been tracked down by Australian media – Froduald Rukeshangabo who now lives and works in Brisbane and Celestin Munyaburanga who is thought to also live in the city – have been named by perpetrators and survivors in Rwanda as culpable of numerous killings during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. Like the UK, Australia has never held a trial for genocide and has become a popular home for alleged mass killers as a result of its policy of impunity.