CNLG welcomes the Paris verdict over Barahira and Ngenzi genocide suspects

The National Commission for the Fight against Genocide welcomes the verdict of the Assize Court of Paris sentencing both Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira for their role in the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

On July 6, 2016 the Assize Court of Paris sentenced both Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira two former mayors of the town of Kabarondo in the former Kibungo prefecture to life sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity.

The National Commission for the Fight against Genocide welcomes the decision of the Assize Court of Paris, which establishes the responsibility of Octavien Ngenzi and Tito Barahira in the genocide against the Tutsi.

The first, Tito Barahira was the mayor of Kabarondo municipality from 1977 to 1986. He was replaced in this post by Octavien Ngenzi. During the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, Barahira was Director of Electrogaz in Kabarondo. He was also the local president of the Mouvement Républicain pour la démocratie et le développement (MRND).

He chaired and participated in meetings where Tutsi extermination plans were carried out. He used his influence to mobilize people to kill Tutsis.

In April 1994, Barahira organized and led Interahamwe militiamen armed with machetes to a church in Kabarondo. He participated in murdering of Tutsis who had sought refuge in the church.

His incitement to genocide included the convening of the Interahamwe militia, buying them beer to motivate them for the massacre of Tutsis. He mobilized Interahamwe militia and ordered them to start the massacres against the Tutsi by giving examples of such other places where massacres had already begun. Immediately after, the massacres began in Nyakabungo and Cyinzovu.

Barahira Tito separated those who attended the meeting in two groups, one group went to kill at Nyabisenga, another one went to kill in cyinzovu where the meeting was held. Hundreds of Tutsi victims died in Kabarondo, killed in their homes and at various roadblocks while trying to flee to churches for their safety or trying to cross the border into the United Republic of Tanzania.

On 12 April 1994, Barahira Tito personally killed Kabayire, Budugara Jean Damascène, Bureriya, Guido, Mwiza Francoise, Ngango Theoneste, Ruganintwari, Ntirushwamaboko François and his family.

He personally gave the order to kill an old woman named Josephine Mukaruhigira who had begged him to spare her, saying she was from the Hutu ethnic group, nevertheless, he ordered his criminal gangs to continue and finish with her.

On 13 April 1994, at 9 a.m., Barahira Tito and his Interahamwe militiamen attacked and participated in the killings of more than 2,000 Tutsis who had sought refuge at the church in Kabarondo.

In all these massacres against the Tutsi, Barahira Tito was in company with notorious Interahamwe militia among those well-known include: Mukasa Turatsinze, Mumvano , Mugarasi , Bigirumwami , Ntazinda , Rutanga , Rupaca , Kanonko and others.

The second, Octavien Ngenzi (alias Ntaganira Jean-Marie Vianney), is former mayor of the municipality of Kabarondo, and local president of the MRND who later succeeded Tito Barahira at the Mayoral of Kabarondo municipality.

Tutsis from different corners of the Kibungo prefecture had hoped to have their lives saved in the Kabarondo church. Ngenzi himself transported the killers, many Tutsis who were his neighbors and friends approached him and begged him to let them survive, but he turned down their plea and continued to supervise and direct the killings against them.

Between April and July 1994, Ngenzi Octavien, forming a joint criminal association with the ruling regime and the leaders of the Interahamwe militia, conspired with the administrative authorities, civil and military, supplied guns, trained and equipped the said criminal enterprise.

He personally participated in the formation of a criminal gang of militia called Simba battalion and another called Abarinda.

Both groups were trained under him and under his orders very many Tutsis were killed, particularly in the town of Kabarondo and all of Kibungo prefecture; he himself had a gun and supervised the killings.

He personally murdered Edita, Muhutu , Rudasingwa, Nyirankware, Uwimpundu Vestine and Musonera Jerôme. He continued to direct and advise the Interahamwe militia despite his awareness of the fact that this criminal militia was killing people and destroying property.

While welcoming the historic verdict of the Assize Court of Paris, the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide hopes that French justice will continue with this commendable step and judge the many remaining Rwandan genocide perpetrators on the French soil.

In fact, the refusal to extradite perpetrators of genocide who fled to France has been constant in the French judiciary.

Despite the availability of several tangible evidences implicating some perpetrators in the genocide, non-suits have been issued to the surprise of everyone, including the case of Wenceslas Munyeshyaka.

CNLG hopes that other genocidaires who are on the French soil will also be apprehended and brought before justice.

CNLG pays tribute to lives of the victims who perished during the genocide in Kabarondo and strengthening the survivors of the genocide.

UM– USEKE.RW