UK Charges Doctor Over Alleged Role in 1994 Rwanda Genocide

A 65-year-old doctor has appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London after becoming the first person in the UK to face charges linked to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Dr Vincent Brown, formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, is accused of offences relating to the alleged killing and persecution of members of Rwanda’s Tutsi community during the first week of the genocide. He faces one charge of conduct ancillary to genocide and six counts of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.

British prosecutors allege that Brown directed or encouraged acts of violence in Kigali between 6 and 13 April 1994. The allegations include the deaths of six people, among them a mother and her young son, according to prosecutors.

The charges follow a seven-year investigation by the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Team, which began in 2019 after a request from the Rwandan government. British authorities said the investigation involved extensive international cooperation and that other suspected genocide-related offences remain under investigation.

Brown was a medical doctor who qualified in Rwanda in the 1980s and later headed the country’s Department of Family Health. He moved to Britain more than two decades ago and has worked with organisations supporting refugees.

His lawyer, Sam Blom-Cooper, told the court that Brown denies the allegations and sees the case as an opportunity to clear his name. Brown has previously said he left Kigali in April 1994 and has denied involvement in the genocide.

The judge indicated that Brown could be granted bail ahead of his next appearance at the Old Bailey on 9 October, subject to conditions. However, prosecutors said they intended to challenge the bail decision, leaving Brown in custody pending a further hearing.

The 1994 Rwanda genocide lasted about 100 days and resulted in the deaths of more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The UK authorities said investigations into six other individuals suspected of genocide or crimes against humanity remain ongoing.