Rwandan Man on Trial in Netherlands Denies 1994 Genocide Charges

A 66-year-old Rwandan man, Eugene N., is on trial in the Netherlands for allegedly taking part in and inciting killings during the 1994 genocide, including the murder of about 3,000 Tutsis in Mbazi. Prosecutors accuse him of genocide and war crimes linked to violence and looting during the conflict that killed around 800,000 people. He denies the charges, claiming he was also a victim and lost family members. The trial is being held in The Hague under universal jurisdiction, with a verdict expected in August.

A 66-year-old Rwandan man standing trial in the Netherlands has strongly denied accusations that he incited and participated in the killing of around 3,000 Tutsis during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, telling the court that he was himself a victim of the violence that swept through the country.

The defendant, identified in court records as Eugene N., is facing multiple serious charges including incitement to genocide, co-perpetration of genocide, and war crimes connected to large-scale looting and destruction of property. Prosecutors allege that he played an active role in violent attacks against Tutsi civilians in the southern Mbazi district of Rwanda, where he is accused of participating in killings and orchestrating acts of destruction during one of the darkest periods in the country’s history.

The prosecution claims that Eugene N. was personally involved in a “rampage of looting and destruction,” during which homes belonging to Tutsi residents were allegedly set on fire and properties were stolen or destroyed. According to their case, the violence escalated rapidly in Mbazi, culminating in the mass killing of approximately 3,000 Tutsis who had fled to a stadium in the area in an attempt to seek safety. The wider genocide, which occurred between April and July 1994, led to the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people, most of them from the Tutsi minority, according to United Nations figures.

However, when proceedings opened at the district court in The Hague, Eugene N. rejected all allegations against him. Speaking before judges, he insisted that he did not commit the acts described in the indictment. He told the court that, contrary to being a perpetrator, he was also among those targeted during the genocide and suffered personal losses, including the deaths of several family members during the widespread killings.

His defence team has maintained that he should not be held responsible for the crimes described by prosecutors. They argued that he made efforts to prevent violence where possible and that the accusations do not reflect his actions during the period in question. The defence also described the case as deeply distressing for their client, stating that he has experienced significant psychological trauma and depression as he is forced to relive events from 1994. One of his lawyers told the court that the trial has reopened emotional wounds, describing him as “a broken man” under severe mental strain.

Because of safety concerns, the court granted protective measures requested by the defence, including the distortion of the defendant’s voice and the concealment of his face during proceedings. These measures were introduced due to fears about possible repercussions if he were publicly identified, particularly given his Dutch nationality and long-term residence in the country.

According to Dutch authorities, Eugene N. has been under scrutiny for several years and was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Rwandan prosecutors in 2014. However, he cannot be extradited to Rwanda after acquiring Dutch citizenship, and he has lived in the Netherlands since 1998.

Dutch investigators began formally examining the case in 2020, gathering evidence over several years. Their work included interviewing dozens of witnesses, some of whom were located in Rwanda, and reviewing accounts related to events during the genocide. The prosecution’s case is built on a combination of witness testimony and historical documentation intended to establish the defendant’s alleged role in the 1994 violence.

The trial is being conducted under the principle of universal jurisdiction, a legal framework that allows national courts to prosecute individuals accused of the most serious international crimes, such as genocide and war crimes, regardless of where those crimes were committed. The Netherlands has previously been involved in similar cases, as have other European countries, which have prosecuted individuals linked to the Rwandan genocide under this principle.

The proceedings at the district court in The Hague are scheduled to continue until June 29, with a verdict expected on August 28. The case remains part of broader international efforts to bring alleged perpetrators of the 1994 genocide to justice many years after the events occurred, as courts continue to hear testimony and assess evidence related to one of the most devastating episodes of the 20th century.