The trial involving Paul Rusesabagina and 20 other terror suspects on Wednesday continued with prosecution pinning some of the suspects on conscripting young girls into the illegal militia outfit. Among the people charged was Angeline Mukandutiye, the only woman among the group of 21. According to Prosecutor Claudine Dushimimana, Mukandutiye was part of the CNRD, which later joined the MRCD coalition and its militia wing, FLN, where she worked as ‘commissioner in charge of family and women promotion.’ Among her key responsibilities was to conscript girls to join the militia, including minors who were as young as 15-years. “During earlier interrogations, Mukandutiye admitted that she encouraged girls to join the militia. She said that she used to admire the military when she was still a child, but didn’t get opportunity to join. When she had grown up, she tried to encourage her daughter to join, but she didn’t accept. So, she decided try to convince other girls to join,” said Dushimimana, adding that many of them were under age. Marc Nizeyimana, a former commander of the FLN (also among the 21) also pins Mukandutiye to the crime. “Mukandutiye was responsible for encouraging girls to join, and we would train them,” Dushimimana read from the sworn affidavit by Nizeyimana. Prosecutors also read some testimonies of girls who fell victim of Mukandutiye’s recruitment trap. Donatille Nyirahabimana, one of the girls, as quoted by Dushimimana, said in an affidavit. “After passing my primary 6 examinations, I joined secondary school. After barely a week in senior one, a lady called Angelina talked to me about joining the army. She talked to several of us, telling us that everyone who was 15 years and above could join. I joined,” she said. Marie-Claire Asifiwe, another girl has a similar testimony’ “A woman called Angelina came home and told us that they were going to give us military training. We accepted, and when we went for it,” she said. Prosecutor Dushimimana told court that there are many examples of girls that were conscripted into the FLN by Mukandutiye, some of whom were minors. Separately, Mukandutiye faces additional charges away from being part of FLN. An inspector of schools in Nyarugenge district during the Genocide against the Tutsi, Mukandutiye returned to Rwanda in 2019, after FLN bases were destroyed in DR Congo in a campaign against armed groups. She was tried and convicted for her prominent role in the Genocide, especially for killings in and around St Famille Catholic church in Nyarugenge. Following her repatriation, she appeared on television giving an interview and Genocide survivors identified her which later led to her arrest. Meanwhile, the MRCD-FLN trial is set to continue on Thursday, April 29, as the accused will be starting to present their defence after prosecution on Wednesday concluded presenting all the indictments of the accused. According to Judge Antoine Muhima, Thursday’s hearing will begin with Herman Nsengimana, a former FLN spokesperson presenting his defence.
