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, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In 1999, 116 people were sentenced to death
In 1999, 116 people were sentenced to death
- JANUARY 1, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
The Kigali-based rights group LIPRODHOR said around...
The Kigali-based rights group LIPRODHOR said around 3,000 suspects have been tried since genocide trials began in late 1996
- JANUARY 1, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda voted against the resolution on the death penalty...
Rwanda voted against the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- JANUARY 1, 2000RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses...
Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses against the State and crimes against humanity
- DECEMBER 9, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On December 9, a verdict was read to 42 people charged...
On December 9, a verdict was read to 42 people charged with genocidal crimes and other crimes against humanity committed in Rutongo Commune, Kigali-Rural Prefecture, after a mass trial
- DECEMBER 4, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On December 4, Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor for...
On December 4, Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor for the UN Tribunal trying suspects in the 1994 genocide, arrived in Kigali with hopes of meeting government officials, despite strained relations between Rwanda and the court
- NOVEMBER 8, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On November 8, Ambassador Joseph Mutaboba, speaking...
On November 8, Ambassador Joseph Mutaboba, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly, said that the International Criminal Tribunals were a less-than-perfect response to mass atrocities
- OCTOBER 1, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In October, prosecutor Edouard Kayihura opened the...
In October, prosecutor Edouard Kayihura opened the proceedings against Bishop Augustin Misago who, when he was head of the Gikongoro diocese about 100 miles southwest of the Rwandan capital Kigali, told terrified arrivals they must move on, sending them t
- SEPTEMBER 17, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On September 17, Theodore Munyengabe, a former deputy-governor...
On September 17, Theodore Munyengabe, a former deputy-governor of southwestern Cyangugu District, was re-arrested after the Court of Appeal had set him free in July
- JULY 22, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda signed the letter, dated 22 July 1999, addressed...
Rwanda signed the letter, dated 22 July 1999, addressed to the President of the Economic and Social Council, in which the retentionist countries dissociated from the Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/61 on the question of the death penalty
- JULY 1, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In July, army Major Bernard Ntuyahaga, implicated in...
In July, army Major Bernard Ntuyahaga, implicated in the murder of 10 Belgian peacekeepers during the first hours of Rwanda's 1994 genocide, faced extradition in Tanzania
- JUNE 30, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On June 30, a court in western Rwanda sentenced 9 people...
On June 30, a court in western Rwanda sentenced 9 people to death and 16 others to life imprisonment for involvement in the 1994 genocide
- JUNE 12, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On June 12, the specialized chamber of Butare (southern...
On June 12, the specialized chamber of Butare (southern Rwanda) court of first instance passed a death sentence on Patrice Nsanzurugo and his son, Daniel Segatasha and gave life imprisonment to a man identified as Munyakayanza, for genocide and other crim
- JUNE 3, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On June 3, a military court sitting in Gitarama (central...
On June 3, a military court sitting in Gitarama (central Rwanda) sentenced to death gendarme Maj
- JUNE 1, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In June, a journalist, Valerie Bemeriki, was arrested...
In June, a journalist, Valerie Bemeriki, was arrested and is to be charged with genocide and crimes against humanity for her role in the massacres
- APRIL 28, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda voted against the resolution on the death penalty...
Rwanda voted against the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28 (1999/61)
- APRIL 1, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In April, the residents of Kivumu sector in Nyamyumba...
In April, the residents of Kivumu sector in Nyamyumba Commune of Gisenyi Prefecture (northwestern Rwanda), urged the region's judicial authorities to execute publicly Zachary Ndayazi, who confessed to having taken part in the massacre of 34 people early i
- MARCH 11, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On March 11, a military court in Rwanda upheld the...
On March 11, a military court in Rwanda upheld the death penalty on Pierre Bizimana, an officer in the former Rwandan army, and Martin Kageruka, a doctor, for the murder of Queen Rosalia Gicanda and her family, as well as other genocidal crimes in July 19
- FEBRUARY 12, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
On February 12, a court of first instance in Rushashi,...
On February 12, a court of first instance in Rushashi, Kigali Rural Prefecture held a joint trial of 30 people accused of genocide and other crimes against humanity, committed in Tare Commune of Kigali Rural Prefecture in 1994
- FEBRUARY 1, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
In February, the Cyangugu genocide court, in Rwanda's...
In February, the Cyangugu genocide court, in Rwanda's southwest, sentenced 3 people to death after finding them guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity
- JANUARY 1, 1999RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses...
Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses against the State and crimes against humanity