The Court of Appeal in Kigali on Friday, February 14. upheld a 25-year prison sentence handed to Jean-Baptiste Mugimba for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tusti. In 1994, Mugimba was the Secretary-General of the Coalition for the Defence of the Republic (CDR), a party whose members took part in the Genocide against the Tutsi. In 2022, the High Court’s Specialised Chamber convicted Mugimba of conspiracy to commit genocide and complicity in genocide for International and Cross-Border Crimes, sentencing him to 25 years in prison. He was found guilty of participating in genocide killings in the Nyakabanda and Nyamirambo sectors of Nyarugenge District, Kigali. ALSO READ: Jean-Baptiste Mugimba gets 25 years for Genocide crimes Both Mugimba and Prosecutors appealed the verdict, with Mugimba seeking acquittal and the prosecutors demanding a life sentence for him. During his appeal trial, which began on September 17, Mugimba argued that the court had ignored crucial evidence, disregarded testimonies from his witnesses, and overlooked contradictions in other testimonies. He claimed that the prosecution’s case lacked solid evidence and that his conviction was based on false accusations stemming from personal disputes over property. Additionally, he asserted that Gacaca's court records from his residential area had cleared him of any involvement in the genocide. However, on February 14, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mugimba’s appeal, ruling that his claims lacked merit. The court found that credible witness testimonies implicated him in orchestrating killings, planning roadblocks, and compiling lists of Tutsi individuals targeted for execution which all happened during a meeting held in his home in 1994. The witnesses were among the precipitants in that meeting and recalled how the meeting unfolded. The court also reaffirmed that inconsistencies in minor details, such as dates and clothing descriptions, did not discredit witness testimonies. ALSO READ: Prosecution refutes Mugimba’s appeal on genocide conviction Prosecution’s appeal for a harsher sentence The prosecutors sought a life sentence for Mugimba, arguing that his crimes warranted the maximum penalty determined by Rwandan laws. They noted that a key witness, named Jean-Marie Vianney Nyabyenda, initially detailed Mugimba’s role in organizing the 1994 meeting that developed a list of Tutsi would be killed. However, Nyabyenda later withdrew his statements when summoned to the High Court. The prosecution said that Nyabyenda had been bribed to change his testimony. The Court of Appeal acknowledged that High court had erred in disregarding Nyabyenda's testimony. However, it ruled that while the witness’s initial statement should have been considered, it did not alter the overall judgment. The court also rejected the prosecution’s request that Mugimba’s sentence be life imprisonment, stating that mitigating factors justified the 25-year term. Mitigating circumstances and final ruling While acknowledging the severity of Mugimba’s crimes, the Court of Appeal pointed out that Rwandan law allows for reduced sentences under certain circumstances. It noted that Mugimba had exhibited good behavior during trial proceedings and had not attempted to prolong the legal process, among other factors. Based on these considerations, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision to sentence him to 25 years in prison. ALSO READ: Netherlands to extradite another Genocide fugitive Background on Mugimba’s crimes and extradition Mugimba, who was extradited from the Netherlands in 2016, was found guilty of crimes committed in the Nyakabanda and Nyamirambo sectors of Nyarugenge District, Kigali. In November 2012, Rwandan authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Mugimba. The Netherlands Immigration Service revoked his residency permit in 2013, citing his alleged involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi. He was extradited to Rwanda in 2016 alongside Jean Claude Iyamuremye, who was also convicted of genocide and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2022. With the Court of Appeal’s final ruling, Mugimba will serve his 25-year sentence, bringing closure to one of the many cases seeking justice for the atrocities committed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
