A Rwandan doctor is due in a London court on Tuesday after British prosecutors brought the first charges in the United Kingdom linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Dr Vincent Brown, 65, formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, faces seven charges over alleged offences committed in Kigali in April 1994. He was arrested and charged on Monday and has been remanded in custody pending his appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges comprise one count of conduct ancillary to genocide and six counts of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that Brown encouraged others to kill members of the Tutsi ethnic group with the intention of destroying the group, in whole or in part. They also allege that he was involved in conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said Brown was alleged to have directed and incited acts of murder and genocide carried out by others.
The decision to prosecute followed evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Team, which began investigating in September 2019 after a request from the Rwandan government. The investigation concerns alleged crimes in Kigali’s Rugenge district in April 1994.
British police said detectives travelled to Rwanda several times during the investigation. Five suspects in Kent, Essex, London and Manchester were interviewed voluntarily in 2020, with four remaining under investigation.
Two other men, from Nottingham and Gateshead, were arrested in 2024 and 2026 and also remain under investigation.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said other investigations into people in Britain over alleged offences linked to the genocide were continuing.
The CPS said criminal proceedings against Brown are now active and stressed that he has the right to a fair trial.
