A 65-year-old Rwandan man, Dr Vincent Brown, formerly known as Dr Vincent Bajinya, has been charged in the UK with seven offences related to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The charges include one count of conduct ancillary to genocide and six counts of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity. Brown, who has been living in north London, is alleged to have directed and incited acts of murder and genocide carried out by others.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the decision to charge Brown was made after reviewing a file of evidence submitted by the War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police. The investigation began in September 2019 after a formal request from the Rwandan government to investigate people allegedly involved in the genocide in the Rugenge district of Kigali in April 1994. The CPS's Frank Ferguson said the legal test for bringing criminal charges had been met.
The 1994 Rwanda genocide saw an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus people killed by Hutu extremists over 100 days. The victims included members of the minority Tutsi community and their political opponents, irrespective of their ethnic origin. The mainly Tutsi forces who took power following the genocide were alleged to have killed thousands of Hutu people in retaliation.
Brown will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to face the charges. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the case demonstrates that the UK is not a safe haven for individuals suspected of committing international crimes. The War Crimes Team remains committed to ensuring those suspected of involvement in genocide and other atrocity crimes are held accountable through due legal process.
The Metropolitan Police described the charges against Brown as the result of a complex and extensive seven-year investigation. A number of other investigations remain ongoing into other individuals in the UK for similar offences related to the genocide in Rwanda. The UK authorities are working to ensure that those responsible for atrocities are brought to justice.
The Rwandan government had formally requested the UK to investigate Brown and others allegedly involved in the genocide. The investigation into Brown was a collaborative effort between the Metropolitan Police's War Crimes Team and the CPS. The charges brought against Brown mark a significant step in holding individuals accountable for international crimes.
The case against Brown serves as a reminder of the UK's commitment to prosecuting international crimes. The authorities have made it clear that they will pursue individuals suspected of involvement in genocide and other atrocity crimes, regardless of where they may be living. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by human rights organizations and the Rwandan community in the UK.
Key points
- Dr Vincent Brown, 65, is the first person charged in the UK with offences relating to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
- Brown faces one charge of conduct ancillary to genocide and six charges of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.
- The investigation into Brown was a seven-year effort by the Metropolitan Police's War Crimes Team.
