A Belgian court has sentenced Seraphin Twahirwa to life in prison, while his co-accused, Pierre Basabose, has been committed for psychiatric internment in a trial where the duo were accused of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Twahirwa, aged 65, was a prominent leader of the Interahamwe militia operating in Gikondo, a Kigali suburb during the genocide. On the other hand, Basabose, aged 76, is a former military officer and businessperson who once owned a notable forex bureau in Kigali. ALSO READ: Witnesses pin Genocide suspect Twahirwa on rape, leading Interahamwe militia The trial, which commenced on October 9, concluded on December 21 with the court convicting Twahirwa for genocide and war crimes, intentional homicide attempts, and rape. Meanwhile, Basabose was found guilty of genocide but was committed to psychiatric facility owing to the state of his mental health. Belgian prosecutors had called for a life sentence for Twahirwa and a 25-year sentence for Basabose. ALSO READ: Belgian court adjourns trial of Genocide suspects Basabose, Twahirwa Basabose's case is notable, as he becomes the first genocide convict to be sent to psychiatric internment. Early on, medical reports outlined his cognitive decline, confirming memory disorders, judgment impairments, and attention deficits. His lawyer argued that he was unable to stand trial, leading to a request for the halt of proceedings. Born in the former Ruhengeri prefecture, Basabose, a former military officer who later retired to start a successful business was also a family friend of the former president, Juvénal Habyarimana. He used part of his wealth to become the second-largest shareholder of the infamous Radio-Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM). Following the events of April 1994, he fled Kigali, undertaking a journey through Zaïre (now the DRC), Kenya, Kazakhstan, and Germany before arriving in Belgium. Similarly, Twahirwa, a cousin of Agathe Kanziga, the wife of former President Habyarimana, served as a leader of the Interahamwe militia operating in Gikondo. Following the genocide, he also fled to Zaïre and eventually made his way to Belgium via Uganda. Twahirwa holds no legal residency status in Belgium.
