Facts
According to the judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal, Sosthène Munyemana controlled the key to an office where over forty Tutsis were detained between 23 April and 15 May 1994. After their detention in this facility, all but one of them disappeared and died in unknown circumstances during their transfer to other locations. The Court further concluded that Munyemana also took part in several preparatory acts leading up to the Tutsi genocide, such as meetings during which patrols and barricades were set up to identify and capture Tutsis.
Procedure
On 18 October 1995, the NGOs Collectif girondin pour le Rwanda, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Survie lodged a criminal complaint against Munyemana for his alleged participation in genocide. In 2001, the Collectif des parties civiles pour le Rwanda joined the proceedings as a civil party.
In 2006, Rwanda requested Munyemana’s extradition from France. However, on 7 October 2010, the Investigation Chamber of the Bordeaux Court of Appeal denied this request.
In October 2008, Munyemana was found guilty in absentia by the Butare Gacaca Court in Rwanda. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
On 14 December 2011, Munyemana was charged while under investigation (mis en examen) in France for crimes against humanity and genocide and placed under judicial surveillance.
On 9 May 2017, the investigative judges of the specialized unit for the prosecution of international crimes informed the parties that they had completed their investigation.
On 11 May 2018, the prosecutor issued his final submission.
In 2021, the investigative judges ordered that Munyemana be sent to trial for the commission of crimes against humanity, genocide, complicity in these crimes and participation in a group formed for the purpose of preparing these crimes.
Munyemana appealed this decision before the Court of Appeal (Cour d’appel) and the Supreme Court (Cour de cassation), unsuccessfully.
Munyemana’s trial started before the Paris Criminal Court on 13 November 2023. On 19 December 2023, Munyemana was convicted and sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment for genocide, crimes against humanity and participation in a group formed for the purpose of preparing these crimes. He was acquitted of the charges of complicity in these crimes.
Muyemana appealed the conviction.
On 24 October 2025, Munyemana was convicted and sentenced by the Paris Court of Appeal to 24 years of imprisonment for wilful killings constituting genocide, as a direct perpetrator, and participation in a group formed to prepare genocide.
He was acquitted of the charges of wilful causing of great suffering or serious injury to body or health constituting genocide and of torture and extrajudicial executions constituting crimes against humanity.
Munyemana referred this decision to the French Supreme Court (Cour de cassation).