Sosthene Munyemana – a doctor turned genocidal villain – shielded by French indifference, is finally convicted. This achievement is largely thanks to the heroic efforts of Alain and Daphrose Gauthier from the ” Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda” (CPCR).

While only a small measure of justice, it marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight to end impunity for those responsible for the Rwandan genocide. Munyemana’s conviction sheds light on systemic failures that protect perpetrators and overlook survivors.

Munyemana, 68, was found guilty on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and aiding in preparations for genocide. As a gynecologist in April 1994, Munyemana gave a speech inciting the killing of Tutsis in Tumba and later participated directly in attacks, commanded soldiers, and oversaw the extermination of Tutsi civilians. His conviction received extensive media coverage; case details are on the CPCR website.

The case’s progress was hindered since its inception in 1995 due to political and legal challenges in prosecuting Rwandan genocide suspects in France. Such reluctance in France to pursue accountability for these crimes is regrettably common.

The 2021-2022 report from Rwanda’s public prosecution office reveals that France harbors the most genocide fugitives in Europe, with 92 individuals convicted in absentia by the Rwandan Gacaca courts, followed by Belgium with 88. The United States and Canada shelter 60 and 9 fugitives, respectively.

France, however, is not unique in this regard; other countries, including Rwanda, the DR Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Tanzania, also drag their feet in prosecuting fugitives.

In terms of numbers, when the Gacaca courts concluded in 2012, they transferred 71,658 cases of convicted fugitives to the National Public Prosecution Office (NPPA). However, in the subsequent decade, only 924 were apprehended, leaving 70,734 at large. At this rate, it could take an estimated 765 years to apprehend all remaining fugitives, effectively granting them impunity.

In 2022, the NPPA’s fugitive mapping initiative could only gather information on about half of these criminals (35,680), hindered by tracking difficulties and case duplications. Of these, 21,950 are thought to be abroad, with only 1000 having international indictments. Approximately 7055 are believed to be in Rwanda.

Although Rwanda has prosecuted around 1.2 million cases from 2005 to 2012, the urgency in tracking and prosecuting these fugitives has diminished over time. The conviction of Munyemana should reignite efforts to seek justice for the one million lives lost in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

By Albert Gasake, December 20, 2023.