Former Rwandan doctor Eugène Rwamucyo was sentenced on Wednesday to 27 years in prison by the Paris Court of Assizes, for his role in the 1994 genocide.
The 65-year-old was found guilty of complicity in genocide, participating in a conspiracy to prepare genocide, complicity in crimes against humanity and participation in a conspiracy to prepare these crimes. However, he was acquitted of the charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
The prosecution had demanded a 30-year prison term, specifically for genocide, so that Eugène Rwamucyo "would not escape responsibility."
The former doctor and lecturer at the University of Butare was accused of supporting and passing on orders from Rwanda's then authorities inciting the Hutu population to attack the Tutsi minority, notably during a speech on 14 May 1994 in the presence of Jean Kambanda, prime minister of the then interim government.
Rwamucyo was also accused of taking part in burying victims in mass graves, "in a final attempt to cover up evidence of genocide."
According to the United Nations, the genocide in Rwanda killed more than 800,000 people, most of them ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Eugène Rwamucyo is the eighth Rwandan to be tried in France for crimes related to the genocide.
Rwamucyo's lawyer Philippe Meilhac announced that he would appeal. "This is a verdict unacceptable to Eugène Rwamucyo, not worthy of the historic trial it should have been," he said.
