US Federal Court Starts Trial of Rwandan-American Accused of Genocide Cover-up
A Boston federal court has begun the trial of Eric Nshimiye, a US citizen charged with participating in and later concealing his role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
A federal courtroom in Boston opened proceedings against Eric Nshimiye, a 55-year-old Rwandan-American father of four, accused of directly attacking Tutsis and handing them over for murder and rape during the 1994 genocide. Prosecutors allege he later falsified statements to US Department of Homeland Security agents and perjured himself in a 2019 Boston trial, leading to perjury and obstruction of justice charges that could result in loss of his US citizenship.
Nshimiye was detained without bail after his 2024 arrest in Ohio. The prosecution intends to present more than a dozen witnesses, many flown from Rwanda, to testify about his involvement in pro-Hutu activities and the violence in Butare. Defense counsel contends the evidence emerged only after Nshimiye testified as a character witness and questions the reliability of eyewitnesses. Family members say the events are complex and caution against assuming guilt solely based on ethnicity.
Why it matters
The trial shows U.S. authorities pursuing accountability for foreign atrocities and possible revocation of citizenship.
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