Man arrested in Ottawa allegedly participated in killing during Rwandan genocide

Man arrested in Ottawa allegedly participated in killing during Rwandan genocide

Rwandan authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Laurent Nduwayezu in 2014

A man arrested in Ottawa last month allegedly participated in the killing of Tutsi during the Rwandan genocide, according to that country's National Public Prosecution Authority.

In a Thursday news release, Rwandan officials alleged that 68-year-old Laurent Nduwayezu participated in the killing of members of the Tutsi ethnic group in various parts of the former Rubavu Commune, including by attending meetings "during which the names of Tutsi targeted for killing were identified."

At the time of the genocide, Nduwayezu was head of security at Bralirwa, a beverages manufacturer based in Gisenyi — a city on the northern shores of Lake Kivu on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo — officials said.

More than 800,000 people were killed during the 100-day genocide of the Tutsis from April to July of 1994.

Rwandan authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Nduwayezu in 2014.

He also faces 16 immigration charges in Canada, where officials say he has been living under an alias for the last three decades.

Ottawa man wanted for alleged role in Rwandan genocide arrested on immigration charges

Nduwayezu, who the RCMP say has been using the alias of Roland Nduwayo, was arrested in late June in Ottawa after returning from abroad. Investigators also executed a search warrant at his home to seize documents and electronic devices.

Supt. Jeremie Landry, an officer with the RCMP's sensitive and international investigations division, said Nduwayezu entered Canada under a false name around 30 years ago, and was at that point granted access to Canada.

"Obviously the public would have questions about the fact that this individual was in Canada for 30 years. But what I can say is that Canada is absolutely committed to international justice and ensuring that Canada is not a safe haven for those that are accused of war crimes," Landry said.

The RCMP has been investigating Nduwayezu since 2021 after receiving a tip from the public. He has lived in New Brunswick and Ontario, Landry said.

Over the course of their investigation, the RCMP worked with Rwandan authorities to confirm Nduwayezu's identity. That included sending RCMP officers to Rwanda to collect DNA samples, Landry said.

"These investigations are typically complex in the sense that it requires evidence collection both domestically in Canada and internationally. And because of that complexity... arriving at a successful conclusion with sufficient evidence to put before the court does take a substantial amount of time," Landry said.

Nduwayezu is scheduled to appear in court in Ottawa later this month.

Nathan Fung is a reporter with CBC Ottawa, with a strong interest in covering municipal issues. He has previously worked as a reporter in Hamilton and Edmonton. You can reach him at nathan.fung@cbc.ca