Amanze Chinonye
A Dutch court has sentenced Rwandan-born Dutch national Eugène N. to life imprisonment for his role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, including the massacre of about 3,000 Tutsi civilians who had sought refuge at a stadium in southern Rwanda.
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The District Court in The Hague handed down the sentence on Friday after finding N. guilty of genocide and war crimes.
“Only a long life imprisonment would be appropriate. So that’s the punishment we will impose,” the presiding judge said.
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The court said the case involved grave international crimes, reflecting the scale and nature of the offences for which N. was convicted.
The case focused on violence in April 1994, when thousands of Tutsi civilians sought shelter at a football stadium in Mbazi, southern Rwanda. Prosecutors said the civilians were subsequently attacked and systematically killed.
They alleged that N. was directly involved in the massacre and threw a grenade into the stadium. He was also accused of participating in attacks before the killings, including the burning of homes and looting of property.
Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, arguing that N.’s alleged role in the deaths of about 3,000 people warranted the maximum punishment under Dutch law.
N. denied the charges throughout the proceedings. He maintained that he was also a victim of the genocide and had lost dozens of relatives during the violence.
His lawyers had urged the court to acquit him, arguing that he had tried to prevent the killings. One of the defence lawyer described N. as “a broken man”, saying the trial had reopened painful memories of the events.
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The 1994 Rwandan genocide lasted about three months and claimed an estimated 800,000 lives, according to the United Nations. Most of those killed were Tutsis, while moderate Hutus were also targeted.
N. fled Rwanda for the Netherlands in 1998. Rwandan authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him in 2014, but he could not be extradited because he had acquired Dutch nationality.
Dutch authorities subsequently opened their own investigation in 2020, with investigators travelling to Rwanda and interviewing dozens of witnesses. N. was arrested in the Netherlands in 2024.
The case is part of a broader effort by European countries to prosecute alleged perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to prosecute certain serious international crimes committed outside their territories.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
