Rwandan Man Charged in US for Concealing 1994 Genocide Role to Gain Citizenship

Boston, Mar 27 AP - A federal grand jury in Boston has indicted Eric Nshimiye, a Rwandan man residing in Ohio, on charges of falsifying information, obstruction of justice, and perjury related to his alleged actions during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Authorities claim that Nshimiye was involved in the murder of individuals with a machete and the rape of women before immigrating to the United States. He is accused of lying about his involvement in these atrocities to gain refugee status in 1995 and subsequently US citizenship in 2003.

According to court documents, Nshimiye is alleged to have used a nail-studded club and a machete to kill men, women, and children. The charges of obstruction and perjury arise from his testimony in the 2019 trial of a former medical school classmate, who was found guilty of concealing his participation in multiple killings and rapes during the genocide. Acting US Attorney Joshua Levy of Massachusetts highlighted that Nshimiye has spent nearly three decades hiding his criminal actions during the genocide to benefit from US citizenship.

Nshimiye was apprehended and is currently being held in custody in Ohio, awaiting a detention hearing. His initial court appearance took place last week, and he is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Despite attempts to reach out for comments, a public defender in Ohio stated he was no longer involved with the case and that a public defender in Boston had not yet been assigned.

During the early 1990s, Nshimiye was a medical student at the University of Rwanda campus in Butare. He is accused of murdering Tutsi men, women, and children, including a 14-year-old boy and a man who worked at the university hospital. Witnesses from Rwanda have provided details on the locations of these killings and have described the weapons used by Nshimiye. Furthermore, authorities assert that Nshimiye participated in the rapes of numerous Tutsi women throughout the genocide.

Following his escape from Tutsi rebels, Nshimiye relocated to Kenya where he reportedly misled US immigration officials to obtain refugee status. Since arriving in the United States in 1995, he has resided and worked in Ohio. The indictment against Nshimiye underscores the ongoing efforts by authorities to hold individuals accountable for their roles in the Rwandan genocide, ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families.