The US Department of Justice has announced that Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, a 54-year-old Rwandan national, has been extradited to the US from Pennsylvania. He is accused of hiding his alleged role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group and lying to US authorities to avoid prosecution. Nshimiye was arrested on October 27, 2026, after surrendering to the US District Court in Youngstown, Ohio.
Nshimiye, also known as Eric Tabaro Nshimiyimana, is accused of four counts of lying to US authorities and attempting to obstruct justice. He is set to be tried in Boston, Massachusetts, where he faces charges related to his alleged role in the genocide. The US Department of Justice alleges that Nshimiye lied about his involvement in the genocide in a 2019 case against Jean Leonard Teganya, who was charged with crimes related to the genocide.
The US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Leah B. Foley, stated that Nshimiye had obtained asylum in the US based on false claims about his alleged role in the genocide. Foley emphasized that the US will not provide a safe haven for individuals accused of serious human rights abuses. Nshimiye's case is one of several recent examples of the US Department of Justice's efforts to prosecute individuals accused of involvement in the Rwandan genocide.
Nshimiye's alleged crimes include involvement in attacks on Tutsi civilians in April 1994, during which many people were killed, beaten, or mutilated. He is also accused of killing a 14-year-old child and a man who worked as a tailor at the University of Rwanda's hospital in Butare. Several witnesses have come forward to accuse Nshimiye of participating in the violence and raping Tutsi women before killing them.
Nshimiye's defense team has not yet publicly commented on the allegations. However, his nephew, Bizimana Epa, stated that Nshimiye had moved to the US in 1995 and built a new life as an engineer. Epa denied that Nshimiye had committed any crimes. The US authorities have praised the survivors of the genocide for providing information and testimony that helped bring Nshimiye to justice.
The extradition of Nshimiye to the US is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide to justice. The US Department of Justice has continued to pursue individuals accused of involvement in the genocide, even if they have lived in the US for many years. Nshimiye's case is a reminder that the US will not provide a safe haven for individuals accused of serious human rights abuses.
If convicted, Nshimiye faces up to 10 years in prison for obstruction of justice and up to five years for lying to US authorities. He also faces fines of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release after serving his sentence. The US District Judge F. Dennis Taylor IV has scheduled a hearing for January 26, 2027.
Key points
- The US Department of Justice has extradited Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, a Rwandan national, for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group.
- Nshimiye is accused of lying to US authorities and attempting to obstruct justice in order to avoid prosecution for his alleged crimes.
- If convicted, Nshimiye faces significant prison time and fines for his alleged involvement in the genocide.
