The French Court of Assizes of Appeal is set to begin hearing the appeal of Dr Eugène Rwamucyo, who is challenging a 27-year prison sentence handed down in October 2024.
The appeal trial is scheduled to open on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, before the Court of Assizes of Appeal.
Dr Rwamucyo is facing charges including conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity.
On Monday, the presiding judge met with jurors who will sit alongside professional judges in the case, as part of preparatory procedures ahead of the hearings.
Lawyer Richard Gisagara, representing civil parties seeking justice, said the case is expected to be complex, as was the trial at first instance.
“The case of Eugène Rwamucyo will not be easy. Even the first trial was not simple, but it ended with a 27-year prison sentence. The appeal will also be challenging, emotionally charged, and legally complex,” he said.
He added that Rwamucyo will be represented by a team of six lawyers, including a Rwandan lawyer based in Paris.
Gisagara said the civil parties are fully prepared and confident as they approach the appeal proceedings.
“We, as representatives of the victims, are fully prepared and committed because we know Eugène Rwamucyo is someone who strongly defends himself and has never admitted the charges against him,” he said.
He noted that the case is expected to revisit sensitive issues related to genocide ideology, which he said remains a concern today, pointing to individuals who have expressed support for Rwamucyo during earlier proceedings.
Dr Rwamucyo, a former medical doctor and lecturer at the former National University of Rwanda in Butare, is accused of complicity in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including spreading propaganda, hate speech, planning, and participation in acts targeting Tutsi civilians.
