A Paris court is set to try Safari Madjaliwa over his alleged role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with proceedings scheduled to run from November 17 to December 18.
Madjaliwa is facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity before the Paris Assize Court. The case follows years of investigation by French judicial authorities into allegations that he participated in or ordered crimes during the Genocide that claimed over one million lives.
Available information indicates that Madjaliwa was born in February 1965 in the former Butare Prefecture, in present-day Nyanza District. He worked as a trader in Nyanza before moving to France with his family in 2009. He was granted refugee status in 2017.
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In July of the same year, Rwandan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him. In November 2019, France's National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT), which handles cases involving crimes against humanity, assigned the investigation to a specialised investigating judge.
Madjaliwa was arrested in July 2023, subsequently charged and placed in pre-trial detention.
The allegations
Madjaliwa is suspected of having participated in or ordered the killing of Tutsi, including children, between April and July 1994 in the former prefectures of Gitarama and Butare.
Investigators also suspect that he was among people who manned a roadblock at a location referred to as Chez Premie, where Tutsi were identified and killed.
However, the investigating magistrates dismissed the charge relating to participation in a conspiracy to prepare genocide and crimes against humanity. He is nevertheless due to stand trial on the genocide and crimes against humanity charges.
Other Rwandans tried in France
Madjaliwa is among several Rwandans who have faced trial in France over their involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Among them is former intelligence officer Pascal Simbikangwa, who was convicted of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity in 2014. Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira, former local officials, were also tried and convicted in France.
Other Rwandans tried in French courts include Claude Muhayimana, a former hotel driver; Laurent Bucyibaruta, a former prefect of Gikongoro; Philippe Hategekimana, also known as Philippe Manier, a former gendarme; and doctors Sosthène Munyemana and Eugène Rwamucyo.