Rwandan businessman Félicien Kabuga, who faced charges linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, has died aged 91.
Kabuga died while hospitalised in The Hague, Netherlands, where he had been held in custody.
Faced Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Charges
Kabuga had been charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, incitement to genocide, and crimes against humanity, including persecution, extermination, and murder.
The charges were connected to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which more than 800,000 people were killed within approximately 100 days.
Arrested in France After Years on the Run
An arrest warrant against Kabuga was issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on April 29, 2013.
After years as a fugitive, he was arrested in France on May 16, 2020, before later being transferred to the Hague branch of the international mechanism handling the case on October 26, 2020.
His trial officially began on September 29, 2022.
Proceedings Had Been Suspended
In September 2023, judges ordered an indefinite stay of proceedings after determining that Kabuga was medically unfit to stand trial.
The decision followed an Appeals Chamber ruling issued in August 2023.
At the time, the court ordered that he remain in detention at the United Nations Detention Unit (UNDU) pending decisions regarding his provisional release arrangements.
One of Rwanda’s Most Wanted Figures
Kabuga had long been regarded as one of the most wanted suspects connected to the Rwandan genocide.
His death marks the end of one of the most high-profile international genocide cases linked to the atrocities committed in Rwanda in 1994.
