Facts
Séraphin Twahirwa is a relative of the former presidential family. He allegedly led an Interahamwe militia responsible for massacres of Tutsis in a central region of Rwanda. He also fled to Zaire and Uganda, and eventually reached Belgium.
Procedure
Séraphin Twahirwa was arrested on 30 September 2020 and charged with genocide and war crimes while the investigation was ongoing. He was placed under judicial surveillance through the use of an electronic bracelet.
On 19 September 2022, Twahirwa was sent to trial on genocide and war crimes charges with Pierre Basabosé.
On 9 October 2023, the trial began before the Brussels Criminal Court. Around 100 witnesses testified before the court, including 40 who came from Rwanda especially for the trial. The Belgian prosecutor called for a life sentence for Twahirwa. Twahirwa’s lawyers denied the accusations and argued for an acquittal, questioning the credibility of the witness testimonies.
On 19 December 2023, the popular jury of the Brussels Criminal Court convicted Séraphin Twahirwa of war crimes and genocide for dozens of murders and deliberate attacks on civilians. His conviction also includes counts of rape constitutive of genocide and war crimes. He was found responsible for at least 11 cases of rape, committed either directly by himself or through militiamen under his command.
Twahirwa was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He appealed the decision before the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation).