Former Rwandan Mayor Charged for Action in Genocide

By: Megan Gosch
The former mayor of Kivumu, was convicted Thursday for his role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of thousands of innocent Tutsis in a violent Hutu uprising.
Gregoire Ndahimana, one of the most wanted suspects from the genocide, was charged for crimes against humanity and genocide, and sentenced to 15 years in prison by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, reported the Washington Post.
Ndahimana was arrested in 2009 by Congolese authorities, and had previously been hiding in Congo and acting as a member of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group that is made up mostly of fugitive Rwandan Hutus.
The United States had been calling for justice in Rwanda's case, and were satisfied by the court's decision. The State Department issued a statement, stating that "the conviction of Mr. Ndahimana is of particular significance, because as mayor of Kivumu had authority over the police, and yet failed to prevent the massacre of more than 1,500 people."
The conviction of Ndahimana is appreciated but not satisfactory for the Rwandan government, which was expecting a more severe sentence given the gravity of the crime, reported the New York Times.
"We welcome the conviction of Gregoire Ndahiman, but think the court has been too lenient in sentencing," said Martin Ngoga, Rwanda's chief prosecutor.