Félicien Kabuga Dies at 91

Félicien Kabuga, the businessman accused of helping plan the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, has died at the age of 91 while under detention in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals announced his death on Saturday, May 16. The institution said Kabuga died while receiving treatment at a hospital in The Hague.

The court stated that the Medical Officer of the United Nations Detention Unit informed authorities immediately after his death. Dutch authorities have started legal procedures and investigations required under national law.

The IRMCT also confirmed that its President, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Kabuga’s death. Judge Alphons Orie will lead the inquiry.

Charges Against Kabuga

Kabuga faced charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Prosecutors accused him of financing activities connected to the killings. They alleged that he supplied money, vehicles, uniforms, training locations, and weapons used by the Interahamwe militia.

Court reports also alleged that trucks linked to Kabuga transported Tutsi victims to killing sites, including Commune Rouge in Gisenyi.

Arrest and Trial Proceedings

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda issued an arrest warrant against Kabuga on April 29, 2013.

French authorities arrested him on May 16, 2020, after years as a fugitive. Officials later transferred him to the Hague branch of the IRMCT on October 26, 2020.

His trial started on September 29, 2022. Judges later suspended proceedings indefinitely on September 8, 2023, after ruling that Kabuga was unfit to stand trial because of his health condition.

The court stated that Kabuga remained detained at the United Nations Detention Unit while awaiting provisional release to a country willing to receive him.

According to the IRMCT, Kabuga was awaiting provisional release at the time of his death.