Augustin Bizimungu

Augustin Bizimungu (born 28 August 1952) is a former general in the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR). In 1994, he briefly served as chief of staff of the army. During this time, he trained the soldiers and guerrillas who carried out the Rwandan Genocide.cite news|url=http://69.94.11.53/ENGLISH/PRESSREL/2002/320e.htm
title=ICTR press release about Bizimungu|publisher=ICTR]

Bizimungu was born in Byumba préfecture, Mukaranje Commune, Mugina Secteur, Nyange Cellule, Rwanda. cite web|url=http://69.94.11.53/ENGLISH/cases/BizimunguA/|title=Indictment against Bizimungu|publisher=ICTR]

An ethnic Hutu, Bizimungu held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the FAR as of April 6 1994. That day, following the death of army chief of staff Déogratias Nsabimana in a plane crash alongside President Juvénal Habyarimana, Bizimungu was promoted to Major-General and appointed as permanent chief of the army. cite book
title=
last=Dallaire
first=Roméo
chapter=Ch. 11: To Go or To Stay?
pages=pp. 292-293]

Upon fleeing the country following the RPF victory, he allegedly said "the RPF will rule over a desert." [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2195666.stm
title=Rwanda's 'genocide general'
publisher=BBC News
date=2002-08-15
accessdate=2008-02-06]

On 12 April, 2002, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) issued an arrest warrant for Bizimungu, who was apparently working with the Angolan rebel movement UNITA. In August 2002, he was arrested by the Angolan government and taken to the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal in Tanzania. cite news|url= http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/printarticle/gam/20020815/URWANOQ |title=Rwanda's genocide court to try 'big fish'
publisher=The Globe and Mail
date=2002-08-15
accessdate=2008-02-07] The trial is ongoing. It has currently been adjourned until September 2008, whereupon Bizimungu will be tried along with fellow FAR officers Augustin Ndindiliyimana (Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie), François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye (Commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Rwandan Army) and Innocent Sagahutu (Second-in-Command of the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Rwandan Army). [cite web|url=http://www.trial-ch.org/en/trial-watch/profile/db/facts/augustin_bizimungu_325.html|title=Augustin Bizimungu|publisher=Trial Watch|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Bizimungu is portrayed by Fana Mokoena in the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda.

References

External links

* [http://www.trial-ch.org/en/trial-watch/profile/db/facts/augustin_bizimungu_325.html Trial Watch: Augustin Bizimungu]