British prosecutors have charged a man with involvement in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, marking the first such prosecution brought under UK law. The defendant, identified as Dr Vincent Brown, formerly known as Dr Vincent Bajinya, is 65 years old and has been residing in north London. He faces one charge of conduct ancillary to genocide along with six charges of conduct ancillary to murder classified as crimes against humanity.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, Brown is alleged to have directed and incited acts of murder and genocide perpetrated by others. The decision to bring charges followed a review of evidence compiled by the War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police. Officials stated that the legal threshold for criminal prosecution had been satisfied based on the investigation file submitted for review.
The Metropolitan Police investigation commenced in September 2019 following a formal request from the Rwandan government to examine individuals allegedly involved in killings that occurred in the Rugenge district of Kigali in April 1994. The inquiry spanned approximately seven years and involved complex and extensive investigative work. Brown is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The 1994 Rwandan genocide resulted in an estimated 800,000 deaths over a 100-day period, with Hutu extremists targeting members of the minority Tutsi community and political opponents. Counter Terrorism Policing London stated that the charges demonstrate the UK does not serve as a sanctuary for individuals suspected of international crimes. Authorities indicated that additional investigations remain active regarding other individuals in the UK potentially involved in similar offences related to the genocide.
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