KABUGA, Félicien (MICT-13-38)
Pre-trial
Félicien Kabuga was the President of the Comité provisoire of the Fonds de défense nationale (“National Defence Fund”) from about 25 April 1994 to July 1994 and President of the Comité d’Initiative of Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (“RTLM”) during the time of the crimes pleaded in the indictment.
Recent developments: Kabuga was transferred to the Mechanism’s custody on 26 October 2020. His initial appearance took place on 11 November 2020, during which a plea of not guilty was entered with respect to the charges in the indictment.
Year and place of birth |
1935, Muniga secteur, Mukarange commune, Byumba préfecture, Rwanda |
Indictment |
Operative indictment filed on 14 April 2011 |
Arrest |
Arrested on 16 May 2020 in Asnières-sur-Seine, France |
Status of the Case |
Pre-trial |
CASE BACKGROUND INFORMATION
INDICTMENT
Félicien Kabuga is charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity, committed in Rwanda in 1994.
According to the indictment, Kabuga, together with a number of other persons, is alleged to have operated the radio station RTLM in a manner to further ethnic hatred between the Hutu and persons identified as Tutsi and to disseminate an anti-Tutsi message with the goal to commit the aforementioned crimes. Kabuga is further alleged to have instructed, assisted and prompted members of the Interahamwe who participated in the killing and harming of persons identified as Tutsi in Kigali, Kibuye, and Gisenyi préfectures.
Additionally, Kabuga is alleged to have established, together with certain other persons, the National Defence Fund in order to raise funds to provide financial and logistical support for the Interahamwe’s killing and harming of Tutsis. It is also alleged that Kabuga, together with certain other persons, agreed to plan, create and fund a militant group known as Kabuga’s Interahamwe in Kimironko sector, Kigali, the purpose of which was to further ethnic hatred between the Hutus and Tutsis in Kimironko sector, with the goal of committing genocide against persons identified as Tutsis. Kabuga is further alleged to have instigated crimes, incited genocide or made persecutory statements at various meetings at different locations in Rwanda between February or March 1994 and May 1994.
The indictment further alleges that RTLM, founded by Kabuga and others, directly and publicly incited the commission of genocide through broadcasts that expressly identified persons as Tutsis, provided their locations, described them as the enemy, and called for their elimination.
The indictment states that during this period, there were widespread and/or systematic attacks against a civilian population based on Tutsi ethnic identification throughout Rwanda. During the attacks, some Rwandan citizens killed or caused serious bodily harm to persons perceived to be Tutsi.
The charges in the indictment are the following:
One count of Genocide (Count 1)
One count of Complicity in Genocide (Count 2)
One count of Direct and Public Incitement to Commit Genocide (Count 3)
One count of Attempt to Commit Genocide (Count 4)
One count of Conspiracy to Commit Genocide (Count 5)
Two counts of Crimes against Humanity
- Persecution (Count 6)
- Extermination (Count 7)
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE MECHANISM
Upon commencing operations on 1 July 2012, the Mechanism assumed jurisdiction over this case from the ICTR.
On 29 April 2013, a Single Judge, Judge Vagn Joensen, issued a warrant of arrest and an order for transfer requesting all Member States of the United Nations to search for, arrest and transfer Kabuga to the custody of the Arusha Branch of the Mechanism according to UN Security Council resolution 1966 (2010), all States have an obligation to cooperate with the Mechanism in the location, arrest, detention, surrender and transfer of accused persons still at large.
On 16 May 2020, Kabuga was arrested near Paris by French authorities as the result of a joint investigation with the Mechanism Office of the Prosecutor.
On 30 September 2020, the French Cour de cassation rejected Kabuga’s appeal against the lower court’s decision authorising his transfer to the custody of the Mechanism.
On 1 October 2020, President Carmel Agius assigned this case to a Trial Chamber composed of Judge Iain Bonomy, Presiding, Judge Graciela Susana Gatti Santana, and Judge Elizabeth Ibanda-Nahamya, effective upon the transfer of Kabuga to the seat of the relevant branch of the Mechanism.
On 21 October 2020, Judge Iain Bonomy amended the warrant of arrest and order for transfer, and ordered that Kabuga be transferred to the Hague Branch of the Mechanism.
Kabuga was transferred to the Mechanism’s custody on 26 October 2020. His initial appearance took place on 11 November 2020, during which a plea of not guilty was entered with respect to the charges in the indictment.
Selected Filings
Order Scheduling an Initial Appearance
Decision on Urgent Motion for in-person visits between Félicien Kabuga and his Defence Counsel
Preliminary Order regarding Medical Examination of Félicien Kabuga
Order designating a Pre-Trial Judge
Decision on Félicien Kabuga’s Motion to Amend the Arrest Warrant and Order for Transfer
Order Assigning a Single Judge
Order Assigning a Trial Chamber
Decision on prosecutor's request to amend the arrest warrant and order for transfer
Warrant of arrest and order for transfer addressed to all states