The 62-year-old was arrested at the Kayonza Bus Terminal in the Eastern Province and taken into custody by officers from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on March 19, 2025.
During the genocide, he served as the president of the CDR party in Kabuga, which is now located in Gasabo District, Rusororo Sector, Kabuga I Cell, Kabeza Village.
Reports indicate that a roadblock in front of Safari's home was a site where numerous Tutsi were killed.
In 2018, authorities conducting searches for genocide victims' remains discovered mass graves beneath Safari's properties and in surrounding fields. The remains were found in Kabeza Village, Gako Cell, Masaka Sector (Kicukiro District), and Kabeza Village, Kabuga I Cell, Rusororo Sector (Gasabo District).
Safari had built structures over these remains, making it difficult to determine the exact number of victims, as many appeared to have been burned.
Upon learning that bodies were being uncovered on his properties, Safari fled to a neighboring country. He later returned and was arrested at the Kayonza Bus Terminal on March 19.
Safari is currently detained at RIB's Rusororo Station, and his case file was submitted to the court on April 1, 2025.
The crime of concealing or tampering with genocide evidence is punishable under Article 8 of Law No. 59/2018 of August 22, 2018, concerning genocide ideology and related offenses.
If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of seven to nine years and a fine ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 Rwandan francs.
Safari had previously been convicted by Gacaca Courts in 2004 and sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the genocide. On appeal, his sentence was reduced to five years, and he was released in 2008.
Following Safari's case, other individuals who were stationed at roadblocks where Tutsi were killed were also prosecuted.
These include Mucyo Jean Népomuscène, Buturutsemwabo Michel, Habyarimana Jean Népomuscène, Karekezi Augustin, and Twakizuru Jean Népomuscène.
They were found guilty of concealing information about mass graves at a site known as CND during the genocide.
On April 4, 2019, the Gasabo Intermediate Court sentenced them to five years in prison and fined each 100,000 Rwandan francs for concealing or destroying genocide evidence.
RIB has reiterated its commitment to holding accountable anyone who hides or tampers with genocide-related evidence.
The agency also urged the public to come forward with information about undisclosed burial sites so that victims can be given dignified burials.
"Thirty-one years after the Genocide against the Tutsi, it is imperative that people recognize the importance of revealing the locations of victims' remains for proper burial, as this is a vital step toward true unity and reconciliation," RIB stated.
The agency emphasized that concealing such evidence is a punishable offense and must not continue.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/former-cdr-leader-safari-herminigilde-arrested
