LONDON, UK — A Rwandan man living in north London has become the first person to be charged in the UK with offences relating to the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.
Dr Vincent Brown, formerly known as Dr Vincent Bajinya, 65, has been charged with one offence of conduct ancillary to genocide and six offences of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.
Brown is accused of directing and inciting acts of murder and genocide carried out by others.
He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
CPS Authorises Rwanda Genocide Charges
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the decision to charge Brown followed a review of evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team.
“We concluded that our legal test for bringing criminal charges had been met,” Ferguson said.
He said Brown was alleged to have directed and incited acts of murder and genocide committed by others.
The charges are allegations at this stage and must be tested through the criminal justice process.
Seven-Year War Crimes Investigation
The Metropolitan Police said the charges followed a complex and extensive seven-year investigation.
The War Crimes Team began investigating in September 2019 after the Rwandan government formally requested an investigation into people allegedly involved in the genocide in Kigali’s Rugenge district in April 1994.
Police said the investigation remains part of wider efforts to identify people in the UK suspected of involvement in international crimes.
What Happened During Rwanda Genocide?
The 1994 Rwanda genocide lasted about 100 days, during which an estimated 800,000 people were killed.
The victims were predominantly members of Rwanda’s minority Tutsi community, alongside politically moderate Hutus and others targeted by extremist forces.
The genocide was driven by Hutu extremist forces, who targeted Tutsis and political opponents regardless of ethnic identity.
After the genocide, predominantly Tutsi forces that took control of Rwanda were also accused of killing thousands of Hutus in retaliatory violence.
UK Says It Is Not a Safe Haven
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the case demonstrated that the UK would pursue people suspected of international crimes.
“This case demonstrates the UK is not a safe haven for individuals suspected of committing international crimes,” Flanagan said.
She said the War Crimes Team remained committed to ensuring that people suspected of genocide and other atrocity crimes were held accountable through due legal process.
Other Rwanda Genocide Investigations Ongoing
The Metropolitan Police said several other investigations involving people in the UK and suspected of offences connected to the Rwanda genocide remain ongoing.
The Brown case therefore represents the first UK criminal charges arising from the 1994 genocide, while investigators continue examining allegations involving other individuals.
Brown will have the opportunity to respond to the charges through the court process.
