Life sentence sought for Dutch-Rwandan man over massacre of 3,000 Tutsi in 1994 genocide

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has recommended a life sentence at the district court in The Hague against 66-year-old Eugène N. Prosecutors allege he took part in the killing of around 3,000 Tutsi victims on April 24 and 25, 1994, at Byiza Stadium in Mbazi, in southern Rwanda. The prosecutor said the victims were “killed for no reason other than their ethnic background.”

N. fled to the Netherlands in 1998 and established himself in Ede. Dutch authorities opened an investigation in 2020, leading to his arrest in 2024. An international arrest warrant for N. was issued by Rwanda in 2014. However, as he now holds Dutch nationality, extradition to Rwanda is not possible under Dutch law, meaning the case is being heard in the Netherlands.

Prosecutors allege that N. played a leading role in a series of looting raids carried out before the massacre at the stadium. Houses were burned and vandalised during the attacks. According to the prosecution, the perpetrators chanted a song to the beat of drums declaring: “We are going to exterminate them all.” Prosecutors further allege that N. encouraged and incited others to take part in the genocide.

The targeted Tutsi sought refuge at the football stadium, congregating on the field and in the limited seating area. Prosecutors say that approximately 3,000 people were then murdered there in a three-phase massacre carried out in an "appalling manner."

Soldiers first opened fire on those gathered. Civilians later returned to kill anyone who had survived the initial attack, many with machetes and baseball bats. The remaining survivors were killed the following day. Witnesses told investigators that some of the wounded were still alive and begged for their suffering to be ended.

N. was a teacher at the time and also held an administrative position in his region. “He was an important man, a leader,” the OM said. “In April 1994, authority in Mbazi was embodied by the defendant.”

During 1994 in Rwanda, around 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed within the space of three months.

The investigation by the OM and the Team International Crimes involved interviews with more than 40 witnesses, including both victims and individuals who have since been convicted for their roles in the genocide. Prosecutors and Dutch investigators also made several trips to Rwanda as part of the evidence-gathering process.

N. denies all accusations against him and argues that he, too, was a victim of the violence, saying he lost numerous relatives during the atrocities.

The defence is scheduled to make its closing arguments on Wednesday. The court has indicated that it expects to issue its ruling on August 28.