UK charges against Bajinya rekindle calls for action on other Genocide fugitives

The decision by UK authorities to charge Dr Vincent Bajinya, also known as Vincent Brown, over his alleged involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi has been welcomed by genocide survivors and Rwanda’s prosecution authorities, who say the development should pave the way for action against other suspects who remain in the country. Bajinya, a Rwandan national who has been living in north London, was charged with one offence of conduct ancillary to genocide and six offences of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity, according to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). He is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, September 22. The UK had previously not charged anyone over alleged involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi, despite several Rwandan genocide suspects having been the subject of investigations and extradition proceedings in the country. For genocide survivors in Rwanda and the Rwandan community in the UK, the development has therefore renewed longstanding calls for accountability. Philbert Gakwenzire, president of Ibuka, the umbrella organisation of genocide survivors’ associations, described the development as an indication that the UK and Rwanda continue to recognise that genocide is an imprescriptible crime. He said the fact that Bajinya has been charged more than three decades after the genocide demonstrates that the passage of time does not remove the possibility of accountability. “His case is still in the beginning stage, but there is no doubt because he was involved. As Ibuka, we are hopeful that justice will be served, although it has been delayed,” Gakwenzire said. He said the length of time taken to reach this stage was also a source of sadness for survivors, noting that some victims who would have followed the proceedings are no longer alive. For survivors, he said, the case carries two messages: concern over the decades that have passed without some alleged perpetrators facing justice, but also renewed hope that accountability can still be pursued. “We are saddened that the world kept on sleeping and such years passed without these people being brought to justice, and that means that even some victims are no longer alive today,” he said. “Again, we say that if justice is finally going to be served, it needs to be strengthened and recover the time that has been lost. We are ready at any time to give our contribution, such as providing information, because no justice can be achieved without relying on information from the victims of the crime,” Gakwenzire added. ‘Relief and cautious hope’ Eric Eugene Murangwa, a survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi who previously lived in the UK and has followed the case for years, described the charges as a moment of “relief and cautious hope.” He said the case is particularly important because it follows more than two decades of investigations and legal proceedings surrounding Bajinya. He added that the development demonstrates that allegations relating to genocide crimes can still reach the courts decades after the crimes were committed. However, Murangwa stressed that the case must now proceed through due process. “Dr Brown is entitled to a fair trial, and the court must determine the matter on the evidence and through due process,” he said. He added that the development also matters to survivors and members of the Rwandan community in Britain who have followed the issue for years. He pointed out that Bajinya was among five Rwandans involved in longstanding extradition proceedings in the UK, alongside Charles Munyaneza, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, Célestin Ugirashebuja and Célestin Mutabaruka. The other four remain in the UK and have not faced a genocide trial there, he said. For Murangwa, the case also underlines the importance of preserving survivor testimony and other evidence. “Survivors have spent decades carrying memories of people they lost while trying to rebuild their lives,” he said, adding that testimonies, documents and other evidence need to be preserved for future generations. He also called for greater precision in how the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is described, arguing that terminology should clearly identify the group targeted and avoid language that could contribute to distortion or denial. Rwanda calls for action on other cases The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) also welcomed the charges. Faustin Nkusi, spokesperson for the NPPA, said Rwanda had submitted an indictment concerning Bajinya to the UK in 2007, alongside cases involving other suspects. “For us, this is an important step,” Nkusi said. He noted that 19 years had passed since Rwanda submitted the indictment, and said authorities hoped the UK decision would be followed by action in other cases. “Since they have started with the first case of Bajinya, we hope the next step will be the cases of the rest of the fugitives,” he said. Nkusi said Rwanda remains committed to cooperating with UK authorities to facilitate investigations and ensure that justice is pursued without unnecessary delay. He said UK investigators had visited Rwanda several times over the years to gather evidence, interview witnesses and conduct other investigative activities. “They have enough evidence from our side, and even for the other cases as well,” he said. Nkusi also stressed that the passage of time does not extinguish responsibility for genocide crimes. “One day, those who are still at large will be brought to justice. Where they hide or whatever they do, there will be a date when they will be brought to justice. This needs to be a reminder to them.” ‘A very significant moment’ Andrew Wallis, a UK-based journalist and author who has widely researched the Genocide against the Tutsi, described the charges as a “very significant moment.” “This is a very important moment, with the UK finally taking responsibility for starting the actual judicial wheels rolling against an individual who is alleged to be responsible for crimes committed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” he said. Bajinya has lived in the UK since 1999, according to Wallis, who said the length of time before charges were brought makes the development particularly significant. Wallis cautioned, however, that the court appearance is only the beginning of what could be a lengthy legal process. He said the other Rwandan suspects in the UK should also be dealt with through the appropriate legal processes where evidence meets the required threshold for prosecution. “There are other Rwandan suspects under investigation in the UK. These cases must also come to trial,” he said. He said the Bajinya case demonstrates the complexity of pursuing alleged international crimes committed decades ago, involving evidence collection, witness interviews, translations and legal review across jurisdictions. Wallis said the UK investigation involved repeated visits to Rwanda over the past seven years and that investigators eventually submitted the Bajinya file to the CPS, which then determined whether the evidence met the legal test for prosecution. He said the remaining cases should also progress where the evidence supports prosecution.

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UK charges against Bajinya rekindle calls for action on other Genocide fugitives