U.S. deports Genocide convict Napoleon Mbonyunkiza to Rwanda #rwanda #RwOT

Mbonyunkiza, born in 1968, arrived at Kigali International Airport on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

The U.S. authorities decided to deport and extradite Mbonyunkiza after he completed a 15-year prison sentence in the United States for a rape conviction.

According to Faustin Nkusi, spokesperson for Rwanda's National Public Prosecution Authority, Mbonyunkiza had long been wanted for his involvement in the genocide and had already been tried and convicted in absentia by the Nyakabanda Gacaca Court.

'He was convicted by the Nyakabanda Gacaca Court in 2007 for his role in the Genocide against the Tutsi,' Nkusi confirmed.

Mbonyunkiza, a close associate of Matayo Ngirumpatse, served as the leader of the MRND party in Nyarugenge commune in 1992. Before that, he had been an active MRND member, leading its youth wing in 1991.

Nkusi commended the U.S. government for its commitment to fighting impunity and cooperating in prosecuting genocide suspects.

This is not the first time the U.S. has extradited genocide suspects to Rwanda.

In April 2021, Beatrice Munyenyezi was deported and later sentenced to life imprisonment by the Huye Intermediate Court.

She has since appealed the verdict, and her appeal is currently being heard by the High Council Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes in Nyanza.

In October 2021, the U.S. also extradited Oswald Rurangwa, who was convicted by Gacaca courts and sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Other genocide suspects previously deported by the U.S. to Rwanda include Enos Iragaba Kagaba (extradited in 2005), Jean Mary Vianney Mudahinyuka (2011), Marie Claire Mukeshimana (2011), and Dr. Léopold Munyakazi (2016).

Nkusi reiterated Rwanda's appreciation for the judicial cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi are brought to justice.