Innocent Sagahutu

Innocent Sagahutu (born 1962?) is a former Rwandan soldier, who is chiefly known for his alleged role in the Rwandan Genocide.

Background and role in genocide

Sagahutu was born in Cyangugu préfecture, Rwanda; he is of Hutu ethnicity. Sagahutu entered the Rwandan Armed Forces, and by 1994 held the rank of captain. He was second-in-command of the Reconnaissance Battalion (RECCE) and the commander of the A company of this battalion, serving under battalion commander Major François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye.

The ICTR indictment alleges that between 1990 and 1994, Sagahutu and other officers conspired to exterminate the Tutsi civilians and political opponents, and helped to train "interahamwe" and militia groups who committed the genocide. ref|ictr-indictment

After Habyarimana's death and the start of the genocide, Sagahutu allegedly ordered his subordinate, Adjudant Boniface Bizimungu, to prevent Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana from leaving her house. He also authorized Bizimungu to shoot at Belgian peacekeepers who were guarding the residence if they attempted to prevent her arrest. ref|ictr-indictment

Members of the Para-Commando Battalion and the A company of the Reconnaissance Battalion commanded by Sagahutum accompanied by members of the Presidential Guard, eventually tracked down and arrested Uwilingiyimana and her husband. After this, Bizimungu allegedly asked Sagahutu whether he should bring her back to Camp Kigali, and Sagahutu replied with "for what reasons?". Following this she was sexually assaulted and killed. ref|ictr-indictment

During the same operation, the Rwandan Army soldiers took into custody ten Belgian peacekeepers from UNAMIR who had been guarding her house. They were taken back to Camp Kigali, a FAR encampment, were they were "attacked and beaten" by members of RECCE under Sagahutu's command. They were later killed. ref|ictr-indictment

After the genocide

Sagahutu fled Rwanda after the RPF victory. In an indictment last amended on 25 September 2002, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) charged Sagahutu with "conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the Geneva Convention." ref|ictr-indictment

Sagahutu was arrested in the Danish town of Skjern in Ringkøbing County, on 15 February 2000. He had lived in Denmark for approximately two years as a refugee.

At the time of his arrest, his neighbours described him as a "friendly family man" who lived a comfortable and quiet life with his wife Immaculée and their two children, an eight-year-old-boy and a twelve-year-old daughter, who both spoke Danish and were enrolled in a local school. He was arrested while "he bicycled home from shopping for groceries in a nearby supermarket". ref|cphpost20000218

He was transferred to the authority of the ICTR on 24 November 2000. As of 2006, his joint trial with other FAR officers implicated in the genocide is currently underway. ref|reuters20060302

References

* [http://65.18.216.88/ENGLISH/cases/Sagahutu/ Indictment against Sagahutu] from the ICTR
* [http://www.cphpost.dk/print.jsp?o_id=58890 Alleged mass murderer is good family man, neighbours say] , "The Copenhagen Post", 18 February 2000
* [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218498/114132137385.htm ICTR/Calendar - Eight Trials Set for March 2006] , "Reuters", March 2 2006

External links

* [http://www.cij.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=indictees&tribunalID=2 Information on indictees]