The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda today overturned the convictions of Tharcisse Muvunyi for genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide based on a speech he gave in Gikonko, and other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity. The Appeals Chamber also quashed Muvunyi’s conviction for direct and public incitement to commit genocide based on a speech he gave at the Gikore Trade Center and ordered a retrial limited to the allegations considered in relation to this incident.

The Appeals Chamber composed of Judges Fausto Pocar, presiding, Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Liu Daqun, Theodor Meron and Wolfgang Schomburg then quashed the sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment imposed by the Trial Chamber and dismissed all other grounds of appeal.

From 1 March until mid-June 1994, Tharcisse Muvunyi served as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Rwandan Armed Forces, stationed at the École des sous-officiers (“ESO”) in Butare Prefecture. His trial commenced on 28 February 2005, and he was convicted by Trial Chamber II in its Judgement rendered on 12 September 2006. His appeal, together with that of the Prosecution, was heard in Arusha on 13 March 2008. Tharcisse Muvunyi is to remain in the Tribunal’s Detention Facility pending his retrial.