Police are investigating Rwandan genocide suspects living in the UK, with potential charges looming after decades of delay
London: It’s a shocking situation. Prosecutors are looking into genocide charges against a Rwandan man living in the UK, decades after the horrific events of 1994.
Scotland Yard’s War Crimes Team has sent a file to the Crown Prosecution Service about one of five men they’ve been investigating. They interviewed suspects from places like Kent, Essex, London, and Manchester back in 2020. They’ve even traveled to Rwanda multiple times during this complicated six-year investigation.
Witnesses have shared dozens of statements about the massacres that followed the assassination of Rwanda’s president in April 1994. It’s estimated that around 800,000 people were killed in just 100 days, many brutally with machetes, as extremists from the Hutu majority targeted the Tutsi minority.
Now, multiple people living in the UK are facing accusations related to the 1994 genocide. Celestin Mutabaruka, 68, from Kent, and Vincent Bajinya, 60, a doctor who changed his name to Brown, both chose not to comment when approached. Mutabaruka mentioned he’s eager to clear his name, saying, “I have nothing to hide.”
In North London, Brown stated three years ago, “I am not a criminal and I never did those things.” Another suspect, Celestin Ugirashebuja, 70, was living in Essex, while Emmanuel Nteziryayo, 59, now resides in Manchester. A fifth man, Charles Munyaneza, in his mid-60s, lives in Bedford but wasn’t questioned due to a stroke.
These men were arrested back in 2013 after a Rwandan extradition request but denied any involvement in genocide. They were named after a judge ruled against extradition, citing concerns over fair trial rights. Recently, a sixth man, aged 69, was arrested in Gateshead by the War Crimes Team but has since been released on bail.
Dr. Vincent Brown, who’s been in the UK since 2000, is wanted by the Rwandan government. This news follows recent arrests of Rwandans in South Africa and Ohio. The Rwandan High Commissioner in London, Johnston Busingye, expressed that Rwandan authorities have cooperated fully with UK officials, emphasizing that after three decades, every day of delay is too long.
Scotland Yard hasn’t disclosed which of the five men might face charges. A spokesperson mentioned they’re working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to move things along as quickly as possible. One case is reportedly at an advanced stage, with a file submitted to the CPS in late 2023.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed they’ve received a complete file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police regarding one individual accused of war crimes in Rwanda. They’re continuing to advise on investigations involving other suspects.
