Augustin Ngirabatware, the former Minister of Planning at the time of Rwanda genocide in 1994, was transferred on Wednesday 8 October to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.

Ngirabatware was arrested in Germany on 17 September 2007. He is the son-in-law of the Tribunal’s most wanted remaining fugitive and alleged main financier of the 1994 genocide, Félicien Kabuga.

Financing genocide

The accused faces a total of nine charges including genocide, complicity to genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in the killings.

Notably, Ngirabatware is accused of having used funds from his department to finance the genocide.

Augustin Ngirabatware was initially charged together with Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda who has subsequently been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Tribunal. Kamuhanda’s appeal was dismissed by the Appeals Chamber on 19 September 2005.

Ngirabatware made his initial appearance before Trial Chamber II on 10 October 2008. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts charging him with genocide and serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Augustin Ngirabatware
Press release