Leading Rwandan genocide suspect on trial in France

A former senior Rwandan official has gone on trial in Paris, accused of complicity in the 1994 genocide. Laurent Bucyibaruta is the most senior figure yet to face justice in France over the tragedy. Al Jazeera reports that the trial is expected to last two months and feature more than 100 witnesses, including survivors from Rwanda who have flown over or will appear via video link. The case of Bucyibaruta is the fourth from the Rwandan genocide to come to court in France, which had long been under pressure from activists to act against suspected perpetrators who had taken refuge on French soil. Facing charges of genocide, complicity in genocide and in crimes against humanity, the 78-year-old faces a life sentence if convicted. At the heart of the case are several ‘security’ meetings, either ordered by Bucyibaruta or in which he participated. The accusation says they were sessions to plan the slaughter. Radio France Internationale reports that in addition to the charges associated with killings at a technical college in Murambi, Bucyibaruta is suspected of having been responsible for the killing of 90 Tutsi students at a secondary school in Kibeha, and for the execution of prisoners at Gikongoro jail. In the garden of the Murambi Genocide Memorial, Bucyibaruta's name is inscribed on a granite slab at the top of a list of 75 genocide suspects.