Rwanda
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses...
- News items in the archive
- 141
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Rwanda is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 141 news items on Rwanda, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JANUARY 1, 2001RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Of the 120,000 suspects charged with crimes related...
Of the 120,000 suspects charged with crimes related to the 1994 genocide, only 2,500 cases were completed by the national courts between 1997, when courts began functioning again, and April 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses...
Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses against the State and crimes against humanity
- JANUARY 1, 2001RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The Gacaca justice system is expected to become operational...
The Gacaca justice system is expected to become operational early in 2002
- DECEMBER 10, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The prosecution in the specialized chamber of Gitarama...
The prosecution in the specialized chamber of Gitarama Court of First Instance asked for the death penalty for a priest, Joseph Ndagijimana of Byimana in Mukingi Commune of Gitarama Prefecture
- NOVEMBER 17, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The specialized chamber of the Kibungo court of first...
The specialized chamber of the Kibungo court of first instance [southeastern Rwanda] passed a verdict on 25 people charged with genocide and other crimes against humanity
- OCTOBER 29, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The Catholic Church in Rwanda expressed appreciation...
The Catholic Church in Rwanda expressed appreciation for the acquittal of Father Edward Nturiye and Father Jean-Francois Kayiranga
- OCTOBER 26, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The Court of Appeal in northern Rwanda's Ruhengeri...
The Court of Appeal in northern Rwanda's Ruhengeri prefecture acquitted two priests who were facing death penalties on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity
- AUGUST 31, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
A former Rwandan army major begged a Tanzanian court...
A former Rwandan army major begged a Tanzanian court not to extradite him to Rwanda, saying he feared execution
- JULY 18, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
A former local administrator in Taba commune was sentenced...
A former local administrator in Taba commune was sentenced to death by a court in the central town of Gitarama for his role in the country's 1994 genocide
- JUNE 16, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In a statement, the Vatican said it was happy about...
In a statement, the Vatican said it was happy about the acquittal but noted that thousands of other prisoners were still languishing in jails
- JUNE 15, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
A Rwandan court acquitted the Roman Catholic bishop...
A Rwandan court acquitted the Roman Catholic bishop Augustin Misago of genocide charges, ruling he played no part in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis in 1994
- JUNE 15, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
A Rwandan court acquitted the Roman Catholic bishop...
A Rwandan court acquitted the Roman Catholic bishop Augustin Misago of genocide charges, ruling he played no part in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis in 1994
- JUNE 1, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Georges Ruggiu, a Belgian national who worked as a...
Georges Ruggiu, a Belgian national who worked as a journalist in Rwanda during the events of 1994, pleaded guilty to, and was subsequently convicted by Trial Chamber I of direct and public incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity (persecu
- JUNE 1, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The courts sentenced eight people to death for taking...
The courts sentenced eight people to death for taking part in the country's 1994 genocide
- MAY 25, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago, on trial in Rwanda...
Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago, on trial in Rwanda on genocide charges, sent a message of thanks to Pope John Paul for sending him a telegram of support in prison
- MAY 25, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago, on trial in Rwanda...
Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago, on trial in Rwanda on genocide charges, sent a message of thanks to Pope John Paul for sending him a telegram of support in prison
- MAY 23, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Trials of genocide continued at Nyamata Court of First...
Trials of genocide continued at Nyamata Court of First Instance in Kigali Rural Prefecture
- MAY 19, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
74 people accused of genocide and crimes against humanity...
74 people accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in Commune Gashora were tried in Kiglai Rural Prefecture
- MAY 12, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal...
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Carla Del Ponte, emphasised that there was no hope of ever transferring detainees from Arusha to Rwanda since the country still used the death penalty to prisoners
- MAY 10, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Pope John Paul sent a telegram of solidarity to Rwandan...
Pope John Paul sent a telegram of solidarity to Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago, who was on trial in Rwanda on genocide charges
- MAY 4, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Four detainees accused of infiltration, murder and...
Four detainees accused of infiltration, murder and terrorism were sentenced to death by the Kigali Court of First Instance
- APRIL 6, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The Appeals Chamber confirmed the sentence against...
The Appeals Chamber confirmed the sentence against Omar Serushago
- APRIL 4, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Justice Minister Jean-de-Dieu Mucyo In Kigali said...
Justice Minister Jean-de-Dieu Mucyo In Kigali said that 50 out of 155 prisoners detained at Kigali central prison on rape charges, would be sentenced to death
- APRIL 4, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
A court sentenced seven people to death after they...
A court sentenced seven people to death after they were found guilty of involvement in the country's 1994 genocide
- MARCH 31, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
A court sentenced eight people to death and 14 to prison...
A court sentenced eight people to death and 14 to prison terms for their role in the 1994 genocide
- MARCH 1, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Belgium Foreign Minister Louis Michel said that Belgium...
Belgium Foreign Minister Louis Michel said that Belgium was determined to take action against suspected Rwandan genocide suspects but would not extradite them because Rwanda continues to impose the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 29, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Four people were sentenced to death in Rwanda for their...
Four people were sentenced to death in Rwanda for their involvement in the murder of 120 Tutsis who had taken refuge in a church during the 1994 massacres
- JANUARY 31, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Participants at a security meeting in Kirundo Prefecture...
Participants at a security meeting in Kirundo Prefecture requested that the government amend the law on sexual abuse, requiring that the death penalty be applied to all cases of criminal sexual abuse
- JANUARY 31, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Carla Del Ponte, the chief prosecutor of the UN International...
Carla Del Ponte, the chief prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), was to seek the extradition to the ICTR in Tanzania of Lieutenant-Colonel Tharcisse Muvunyi, a Rwandan genocide suspect living under temporary asylum in Bri
- JANUARY 27, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Trial Chamber I rendered its judgement on Alfred Musema
Trial Chamber I rendered its judgement on Alfred Musema