Kigali, Rwanda — A pivotal legal decision looms in France as the judiciary prepares to rule on the genocide case against Agathe Habyarimana, the former first lady of Rwanda.
The case, which has been a subject of international scrutiny, centers on allegations of her complicity in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Since 2007, when Habyarimana, now 83, was placed under investigation, the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR) has accused her of being an accomplice to genocide and crimes against humanity. Despite her denial of these allegations, she has yet to be formally charged.
The investigation reached a temporary halt in 2025 when two Paris investigating judges dismissed the case, citing a lack of convincing evidence.
However, this ruling is now under appeal, and the case is currently before the Investigating Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal.
The central question revolves around whether Habyarimana played a role in the planning or encouragement of the mass killings following the assassination of her husband, former President Juvénal Habyarimana. His death marked the beginning of a three-month period in which approximately 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, were killed. Civil parties argue that Habyarimana was a key figure in the Akazu, an alleged inner circle of Hutu elites believed to have orchestrated the genocide.
However, Habyarimana maintains that she was merely a mother of eight with no political role.
The outcome of the case is eagerly anticipated by survivors, victims’families, and international observers, as it could set a precedent for the prosecution of high-profile figures involved in genocidal acts.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: rfi
Source: RFI
