The trial of two Rwandans accused of genocide opened this Monday before the Brussels Assize Court. This is the sixth trial of this type organized by Belgium, within the framework of its universal jurisdiction. Pierre Basabose and Séraphin Twahirwa, who were arrested in 2020, are being prosecuted for war crimes and crimes of genocide, in connection with their alleged participation in the genocide of the Tutsi in 1994.
According to the indictment, Pierre Basabose was an influential businessman and member of the ruling party at the time of the genocide. He is said to have played a key role in anti-Tutsi propaganda as a major shareholder in Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines. In addition, he is accused of having armed and financed militiamen in preparation for the massacres. Now aged 76, Basabose appears in court after almost thirty years since the incident. However, his mental health, which has been diagnosed as suffering from senile dementia, could raise questions about his ability to follow proceedings during the trial.
As for Séraphin Twahirwa, aged 66, he was a senior civil servant at the time of the genocide. He is accused of having been an important militia leader in the Gikondo district of Kigali, of having actively participated in the massacres and of having committed rapes between January and July 1994. The trial should therefore highlight the organization and the unfolding of the genocide in the Rwandan capital.
The trial is also marked by the presence of around fifteen victims who have joined as civil parties, as well as by the arrival of forty witnesses specially from Rwanda. This case, which is expected to last until the beginning of December, highlights Belgium’s desire to pursue those presumed responsible for the Tutsi genocide, even decades after the events.
This trial is of great importance, not only for the victims and their families, but also for international justice as a whole. It highlights the need to prosecute those responsible for crimes against humanity, regardless of how much time has passed since the events occurred. It also offers the possibility of shedding light on the tragic events which marked Rwanda in 1994, in order to allow a better understanding and reflection on the prevention of such massacres in the future.
In conclusion, the trial of Pierre Basabose and Séraphin Twahirwa represents an important step towards justice for the victims of the Tutsi genocide. It underlines Belgium’s commitment to prosecuting those responsible for such crimes, and highlights the need to prevent such events in the future. The hope is that this trial contributes to a fairer world, where crimes against humanity will not go unpunished.