A United States jury has convicted Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, a 54-year-old Rwandan-born man living in Ohio, of lying under oath about his alleged involvement in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Nshimiye was found guilty on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice after prosecutors accused him of lying during the 2019 trial of Jean Leonard Teganya, a former medical school colleague who was convicted of immigration fraud and perjury.
According to the US Department of Justice, Nshimiye lived under a web of lies and deception, obtaining refuge in the US by lying to immigration officials about his involvement in the Rwandan genocide. US Attorney Leah B. Foley stated that Nshimiye's conviction ensures he can no longer hide behind his lies. Nshimiye fled Rwanda in 1994, travelled through Kenya, and entered the US in 1995, where he obtained refugee status before later becoming an American citizen.
The charges against Nshimiye concern his testimony and alleged efforts to obstruct justice, but he has not been convicted of genocide in this case. Witnesses testified that Nshimiye, then a medical student in Butare, southern Rwanda, had taken part in attacks against Tutsis, including beating victims with a club and helping identify people targeted at roadblocks. His defence challenged the allegations, arguing that they were fabricated and that he was not in Butare when the violence began.
The US Department of Justice stated that Nshimiye's journey through Kenya reflects the regional displacement that followed the genocide, when people fled Rwanda for neighbouring countries and destinations farther afield. In subsequent decades, investigators have pursued alleged perpetrators in Africa, Europe, and North America. The genocide against the Tutsi, organised by extremist political and military elements, killed hundreds of thousands of people in approximately 100 days in 1994.
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) prosecuted senior figures responsible for the genocide before closing in 2015, and its remaining functions were assumed by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). However, the closure of the ICTR did not end the pursuit of suspects, with some cases transferred to national jurisdictions and others continuing before the residual mechanism. One of the most prominent fugitives, Fulgence Kayishema, was arrested in South Africa on May 24, 2023.
The pursuit of justice has also been complicated by the deaths of several high-profile fugitives before they could stand trial, including Félicien Kabuga, Augustin Bizimana, Protais Mpiranya, and Phénéas Munyarugarama. For survivors and relatives of victims, these deaths have meant the loss of an opportunity to see those accused of responsibility answer the charges in court. The cases demonstrate the practical difficulties of international prosecutions, including the challenges of gathering evidence and obtaining witness testimony over time.
US Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled Nshimiye's sentencing for January 26, 2027. The conviction and upcoming sentencing serve as a reminder that accountability for international crimes can be pursued even decades after the fact.
Key points
- The US jury convicted Eric Tabaro Nshimiye of lying under oath about his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
- Nshimiye's conviction is part of a broader effort to pursue accountability for international crimes, including the Rwandan genocide.
- The pursuit of justice for the Rwandan genocide continues, with some cases still ongoing and fugitives still being pursued.
