The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, commended the French judiciary for convicting Rwandan Dr. Munyemana Sosthène of his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Dr. Munyemana was a doctor at the Butare Hospital, which was affiliated with the former National University of Rwanda (UNR), treating gynecological diseases. In the Tumba Sector, he was a respected figure and a friend of important leaders.
On the night of October 23, 2025, the Appeals Chamber of the French People’s Court convicted him of genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity in genocide, and sentenced him to 24 years in prison.
This is the sentence that Dr. Munyemana was convicted by the trial chamber of this court in December 2023. He appealed because he did not admit these crimes, requesting to be acquitted and to be released from this sentence.
All these crimes were committed in Butare, specifically in the Tumba sector; where Dr. Munyemana imprisoned Tutsi before they were killed. He explained that he was doing this in order to protect them from the Interahamwe
Minister Nduhungirehe said, “The French judiciary has acted with great diligence to bring justice to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, as the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed yesterday when it sentenced Dr. Munyemana Sosthène to 24 years in prison for genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity in genocide.”
Since 2014, several Rwandans living in France have been convicted by local courts for their role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This is a major step forward for France in prosecuting suspects of international crimes.
Pascal Simbikangwa, who served as the Director of Rwanda’s intelligence service, is the first Rwandan to be convicted by French justice of genocide. In March 2014, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
In July 2016, Ngenzi Octavien and Tito Barahira, who led the communes, were found guilty of a major role in the massacre in Kabarrondo in eastern Rwanda and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In July 2022, Laurent Bucyibaruta, who was the Prefect of Gikongoro, was also convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In June 2023, Hategekimana Philippe, who was a gendarme, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the genocide in Butare Prefecture. This sentence was upheld on appeal in November 2024.
