Callixte Nzabonimana

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Callixte Nzabonimana is a former Rwandan politician who is accused of participating in the Rwandan Genocide.

1 Prior to 1994
2 During the genocide
3 Present whereabouts
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Prior to 1994

An ethnic Hutu from Gitarama prefecture, Nzabonimana held the position of Minister of Planning in the MRND government of Juvénal Habyarimana from 15 January 1989 to 4 February 1991, in the successive "multi-party" government formed on 31 December 1991, and the second "multi-party" government formed on 16 April 1992. ^[1] As of 1994, he was also MRND president for Gitarama prefecture.

The ICTR indictment against musician Simon Bikindi charges that Bikindi, an author of many racially charged anti-Tutsi songs, “consulted with President Juvénal Habyarimana, Minister of Youth and Sports Callixte Nzabonimana and MRND-aligned military authorities on song lyrics” before releasing them to be played on the Hutu Power radio station RTLM. ^[2]

[edit] During the genocide

After the death of Habyarimana on April 6, 1994, Nzabonimana was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports (Ministre du Sport et de la Jeunesse) in the interim government. Between April 9 and 14 July, he is alleged to have met with fellow ministers at a number of government meetings in which ministers received briefings on the genocide's progress, and requested weapons to distribute in their home provinces for use by the genocidaires. ^[3]

Wanted poster for Nzabonimana and others

The indictment further alleges that "Callixte Nzabonimana played a major role in the massacres of the Tutsis in Gitarama. He visited the bourgmestres frequently to organize the massacres in their communes with them. Further, he personally travelled through the hills along with peasant farmers to be certain the farmers were carrying out properly their orders to kill the Tutsis." ^[4]

On April 12, 1994, he reportedly freed men who had been detained by the burgomaster of Rutobwe for slaughtering Tutsi cattle, and publicly rebuked and slapped the burgomaster for refusing to join the killings. He allegedly also made a speech encouraging local residents to "do their 'work'" and suggested that Tutsi cattle were waiting to be eaten. ^[5] ^[6]

On 21 November 2001, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) released an indictment charging Nzabonimana and others with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. ^[7]

[edit] Present whereabouts

As of 2006, Nzabonimana is still at large.

According to African Rights, Nzabonimana is one of the "three key civilians" collaborating with the FLDR, operating out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ^[8]