In a sprawling courtroom in Brussels, the culmination of a trial against two Rwandan defendants, Pierre Basabosé and Séraphin Twahirwa, has gripped the attention of onlookers. Described as the masterminds behind a murderous Interahamwe militia in the Gikondo sector of Kigali in 1994, the Belgian prosecutor, Kathleen Grosjean, delivered her closing arguments with unwavering conviction.
Painting a vivid picture of the accused, Grosjean portrayed Basabosé as the “financier” of the militia, while Twahirwa, a nephew of President Juvénal Habyarimana, was depicted as the ruthless leader who orchestrated the militia’s operations. The prosecutor’s narrative wove together a tale of despicable crimes, attributing numerous murders, attempted murders, rape, and pillage to the duo. With both their social status and positions of influence in Rwandan society serving as the premise for their alleged atrocities, the prosecutor’s unequivocal stance resonated throughout the courtroom, leaving an indelible impact on the jury.
As the trial unfolded, the demeanor of the defendants spoke volumes. Basabosé, an elderly man, was portrayed as grappling with senile dementia, yet the prosecutor made it clear that his condition did not absolve him of the heinous acts committed during the period in question. Meanwhile, Twahirwa’s demeanor betrayed hints of authoritarianism, undermining any facade of innocence he tried to project. His behavior in the courtroom was a window into the soul of a man who stood accused of unspeakable crimes.
The prosecutor’s case was bolstered by the testimony of witnesses, fervently defending the integrity of the investigation conducted by Judge Ludivine Kerzmann while dismissing accusations of witness manipulation. The prosecutor adamantly dispelled claims of the trial being tainted by cultural misunderstandings or pressure on witnesses, branding such allegations as feeble attempts to discredit the judicial process.
However, the most jarring aspect of the trial was the spotlight on the use of rape as a tool of genocide. Michèle Hirsch, speaking for the civil parties, shed light on Twahirwa’s alleged history as a sexual predator. The testimonies of women, who bravely shared accounts of being raped before and during the genocide, unveiled a harrowing narrative of mass sexual violence. Hirsch’s impassioned plea underscored the significance of this trial in confronting the grim reality of mass rape as an integral part of the genocide, urging the jurors to recognize the importance of their decision in this landmark case.
In the shadows of this courtroom drama, the coming days will unveil the defense’s perspective, providing a counterpoint to the prosecution’s compelling narrative. As the trial hurtles towards its culmination, the world watches with bated breath, longing for justice to be served in a case that has exposed the darkest chapters of Rwandan history.
