This case summary is part of a collection of summaries describing the cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). See the Online Resource Hub pages on the ICTR and International Criminal Law, and table of ICTR case summaries for additional information.
Trial Judgment: 31 May 2012; Appeal Judgment: 29 September 2014
Callixte Nzabonimana, the former Rwanda Minister of Youth and Associate Movements, stood trial for his role in the killing of Tutsis refugees at the Nyabikenke Commune office, for organizing and supporting attackers, and for several occasions where he was accused of inciting violence against Tutsis. The prosecution charged Nzabonimana with direct responsibility for genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, incitement to commit genocide, extermination as a crime against humanity, and murder as a crime against humanity.
In 2012, an ICTR Trial Chamber convicted Nzabonimana of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, incitement to commit genocide, and extermination as a crime against humanity for instigating killings at the Nyabikenke Commune office, for establishing a Crisis Committee as a means to conceal attacks against Tutsis from the international community, for distributing weapons in Tambwe Commune, and for inciting killings of Tutsis at Butare Trading Center, Cyayi Center, and at Murambi in Gitarama Prefecture.
In 2014, the ICTR Appeals Chamber affirmed Nyabikenke’s convictions for genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity for his role in events at Cyayi Center and Nyabikenke Commune office, and affirmed Nyabikenke’s conviction for incitement to commit genocide at Butare Trading Center and for conspiracy to commit genocide in Murambi. However, the Appeals Chamber reversed Nzabonimana’s conviction for incitement to commit genocide in Murambi and for conspiracy to commit genocide for establishing a Crisis Committee and for distributing weapons in Tambwe Commune. The Appeals Chamber affirmed Nzabonimana’s sentence of life imprisonment.