Zigiranyirazo, who died on August 3 in Niamey at the age of 87, was a prominent figure in Rwanda's political history. The elder brother of Agathe Kanziga, he was widely known for his role in planning the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He served as prefect of Ruhengeri from 1974 to 1989 and was long part of Rwanda's inner circle of power at the time.
Convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and sentenced to 20 years in prison at first instance for his involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi, he was later acquitted on appeal in 2009 due to procedural errors. Nonetheless, he remains widely regarded as a central figure in the Habyarimana regime and the 1994 atrocities.
Mayor Serge Grouard of Orléans explained the city's decision, citing 'the gravity of the crimes committed' and 'the serious risk of public disorder.'
Authorities feared that the grave could become a site of macabre pilgrimage, as nearly 400 people were expected to attend the funeral. Bishop Jacques Blaquart also cancelled the planned mass at Saint-Paterne, noting that the deceased had never expressed any remorse.
Zigiranyirazo's notoriety extended beyond the genocide. He faced multiple accusations, including trafficking, gorilla poaching, trading in precious stones, and alleged involvement in the 1985 assassination of Dian Fossey after she uncovered these practices. His name has become emblematic of both political and economic predation.
The family had challenged the municipal ban in administrative court, but the ruling was clear that there would be no burial in Orléans. By upholding the decision, the Council of State emphasised that the gravity of such crimes extends beyond death, and that perpetrators of such acts cannot be quietly laid to rest.
'This will place the State before its responsibilities,' Mayor Grouard commented, welcoming the ruling.
IGIHE
