Two Rwandans suspected of crimes committed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have been arrested in Canada and Germany, marking another step in Rwanda’s efforts to bring genocide fugitives to justice.
The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) announced the arrests on Thursday, July 16, 2026, identifying the suspects as Laurent Nduwayezu and Innocent Sebagoyi.
Nduwayezu was arrested by Canadian authorities on June 22, 2026, while Sebagoyi was taken into custody in Germany on July 1, 2026, after international arrest warrants had been issued against them.
Sebagoyi, 59, a native of Mushonyi Sector in Rutsiro District, is accused of genocide, extermination as a crime against humanity, and direct or indirect public incitement to commit genocide.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Sebagoyi was a resident of the former Kayove Commune, where he served as deputy bourgmestre in charge of administration and legal affairs.
He is accused of taking part in the killing of Tutsi in different areas of the former commune and of ordering attacks against people who had sought refuge at Muyange School.
His arrest was executed based on an indictment and an international arrest warrant issued in 2019.
Nduwayezu, 68, who was born in Burera District, was living in the former Rubavu Commune during the genocide, where he served as head of security at BRALIRWA, Rwanda’s brewery and soft drinks company.
He faces allegations of genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination and murder as crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors accuse him of participating in the killing of Tutsi in different parts of the former Rubavu Commune and attending meetings where plans to carry out attacks against Tutsi were discussed.
His arrest followed an indictment and international arrest warrant issued in 2014.
The NPPA praised Canadian and German judicial authorities for their continued cooperation in identifying, arresting and prosecuting individuals suspected of involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi who are living abroad.
Rwanda says more international support is still needed to locate more than 1,000 genocide suspects believed to be living in different countries around the world.
According to the Ministry of Justice, Rwanda has submitted 1,199 international arrest requests for people suspected of genocide crimes. By 2026, only 63 suspects had been brought before courts.
Of those, 32 were transferred to Rwanda for trial, while 31 were prosecuted in countries that opted to conduct trials within their own jurisdictions.
