British prosecutors have charged a 65-year-old Rwandan man living in north London over alleged offences linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, marking the first time such charges have been brought in the United Kingdom.
Dr Vincent Brown, formerly known as Dr Vincent Bajinya, faces one count of conduct ancillary to genocide and six counts of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The charges relate to alleged acts in Kigali in April 1994.
Brown, who is originally from Kigali and lives in Islington, was arrested and charged on Monday. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Prosecutors allege Brown directed killings
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the prosecution followed a review of evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team.
The CPS alleges that Brown participated in the genocide and directed and incited acts of murder and genocide carried out by others.
Ferguson said prosecutors concluded that the legal threshold for bringing charges had been met after assessing the evidence.
The CPS stressed that its charging decision was made independently of the police and government and that Brown is entitled to a fair trial. It also warned against public commentary that could prejudice the active criminal proceedings.
Seven-year investigation
The Metropolitan Police said its War Crimes Team began investigating the case in September 2019 following a formal request from the Rwandan government to examine allegations involving the Rugenge district of Kigali during April 1994.
Police described the investigation as complex and extensive, involving international cooperation and multiple deployments over seven years.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the case demonstrated that Britain would continue investigating people suspected of international crimes.
She said other investigations involving individuals in the UK over alleged offences connected to the Rwandan genocide remain ongoing.
1994 genocide
The genocide against the Tutsi began in April 1994 after the assassination of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana. Over roughly 100 days, an estimated 800,000 people were killed, most of them Tutsi, along with moderate Hutu and others targeted because of their political positions.
The genocide ended when the Rwandan Patriotic Front, whose forces were predominantly Tutsi, defeated the government forces and took control of the country.
The subsequent period also saw killings of Hutu civilians by forces associated with the RPF, allegations that have been documented separately from the genocide against the Tutsi.
The UK case is significant because it is the first time British prosecutors have brought charges specifically linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Brown’s appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court is expected to begin the next stage of proceedings. The charges remain allegations and have not been proven in court.
