France’s judiciary on Wednesday ordered the resumption of an investigation into accusations that the widow of Rwanda’s former president Juvenal Habyarimana was involved in the 1994 genocide.
Investigating magistrates last year dismissed the case into alleged complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity against Agathe Habyarimana over “insufficient evidence”.
Read moreFrench judges dismiss genocide case against Rwanda’s former first lady
But the judiciary overturned that decision and ordered that the investigation continue.
Habyarimana, now 83, has been living in France since 1998. Kigali has repeatedly requested her extradition.
The former first lady fled Rwanda with French help just days after her husband’s plane was shot down in April 1994, triggering the genocide which saw around 800,000 people, mainly ethnic Tutsis, slaughtered in one of the 20th century’s worst atrocities.
She has rejected allegations against her, saying she was a stay-at-home mother of eight children with no link to politics.
French courts, acting on the principle of “universal competence” to try the most serious crimes committed outside of their country’s territory, have already convicted several Rwandans for their part in the 1994 genocide, one of the 20th century’s worst atrocities.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
