France’s appeals court has upheld a 27-year prison sentence for
former Rwandan doctor Eugène Rwamucyo, over his role in the 1994 genocide
against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
A judicial source said the Paris court confirmed the sentence
late Friday into Saturday.
Rwamucyo, 67, was again found guilty of complicity in genocide,
complicity in crimes against humanity, and joining a criminal conspiracy to
prepare those crimes. He was, however, cleared of genocide and crimes against
humanity charges.
His appeal trial opened in Paris on June 9 and ran for six
weeks
Rwamucyo had already been sentenced to 27 years in prison in
October 2024. He faces life imprisonment under France’s universal jurisdiction
rules, which allow French courts to try certain international crimes committed
abroad.
Rwamucyo, who grew up in a Hutu family, was approached by
anti-Tutsi militants in the late 1980s after his return from studying in
Russia, according to prosecutors, who accuse him of then spreading anti-Tutsi
propaganda.
While teaching at university, he also participated in the
execution of wounded patients and helped bury them in mass graves "in a
final effort to destroy evidence of genocide", the prosecution said,
quoting witness statements.
His lawyers say Rwamucyo denies any wrongdoing and argues the
accusations are based on his opposition to the current Rwandan government
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